More sarcophagi from the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
The Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women: Dating from the mid 4th Century B.C., it is believed to be the resting place of Strato, a king of Sidon (died 360 B.C.). It contains a total of 18 female figures standing or sitting in various stages of grief. The top contains a frieze of a funeral procession (indirectly telling us about funeral practices at the time. For perspective, it is 2.97 m high by 2.54 m long by 1.37 m high (9.74 ft. high x 8.3 ft. long by 4.5 ft. wide).
The Lycian Sarcophagus: Dated from 430 B.C. to 420 B.C., it resembles tombs called ogival tombs in ancient Lycia (a location on the southern coast of modern Turkey). It is believed to have belonged to King Baana of Sidon. The long sides bear scenes of hunting; the short sides bear centaurs. If you look at the cover, the first side has sphinxes, the second griffons. Lions point out from the sides.
The Sarcophagus of Tabnit: Likely originally taken from the Egyptians after the Battle of Pelusium in 525 B.C. it became the resting place of Tabnit King of Sidon. Unearthed in A.D. 1887, the body of the king was found perfectly preserved floating in embalming fluid - which was then dumped out by the workmen, after which the body immediately began decaying (and so was lost a great piece of knowledge of the ages).
The greatest thing about this sarcophagus is the inscription that was found with it:
"I, Tabnit, priest of Astarte, king of Sidon, the son of Eshmunazar, am lying in this sarcophagus. He who finds my tomb, whoever you may be, do not open my sarcophagus and do not disturb me. For there is no silver, nor gold, nor treasure buried with me. It is only I who lie in this sarcophagus. Do not open this sarcophagus which is my grave, for such would be a great insult to Astarte. If you fail to heed my caution, open this sarcophagus and disturb me, may you have no lineage among the living and under the sun, nor a resting place amidst the dead!"
Even in the ancient world, "Get off my lawn" was a thing.
Well done photos there TB on some very interesting objects. Wonder what happened to those workmen who ah...."interfaced" with that one sarcophagus after reading the inscription. Oh.... King Banana........that brought up visions of Minions running helter-skelter....... :)
ReplyDeleteAargh, Nylon12 - King Baana, not King Banana. Fixed! (Thank you for pointing it out).
DeleteThat would be an interesting follow up, although the leader of the expedition had a pretty good life.
Many a time I have pondered future archeologists excavating our modern day graveyards and marveling at the plain concrete sarcophagus and the person inside. I think in large part, that is why I plan on being cremated so my being disturbed (and possibly displayed) days are over.
ReplyDeleteEd, I wonder if future archaeologists will even be interested in our times. We produce so much less beauty and things of an enduring nature than those in the past.
DeleteI cannot help myself.
ReplyDeleteIt's Istanbul, not Constantinople.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XlO39kCQ-8
Well played Sir, well played (and that is the better version).
DeleteThe ornateness of the Sarcophagi is amazing. Ah wealth. Also interesting is the tidbit that the king was preserved in embalming fluid. I wonder if that was a common practice at the time. What a shame the body was disregarded like that.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, the more I see of such stonework the more I come to appreciate the art - the risk of destroying work is always there.
DeleteWealth is a funny thing - without it, we would not have the craftsman who created this or the work itself.
Oh, to get the fluid and understand the embalming of the Ancients.