Ancient Roman sarcophagi
Encyclopedia
Ancient Roman sarcophagi were the often richly-carved sarcophagi
used for inhumation of the dead by the ancient Romans
. In Rome the use of sarcophagi had only a few precedents in the Republican era
(when cremation
was more widespread) and mainly spread from the early 2nd century, when cremation was abandoned in favour of burial as the majority burial practice.
depicted the Twelve Labours of Hercules and was made from marble from Marmara Island
about 150 - 180 AD.
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
used for inhumation of the dead by the ancient Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. In Rome the use of sarcophagi had only a few precedents in the Republican era
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
(when cremation
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
was more widespread) and mainly spread from the early 2nd century, when cremation was abandoned in favour of burial as the majority burial practice.
1st and 2nd centuries
The Herculean Sarcophagus of GenzanoHerculean Sarcophagus of Genzano
The Herculean Sarcophagus of Genzano is a Roman Sarcophagus from Genzano which is in store at the British Museum. It features the Twelve Labours of Hercules. It has been dated to about AD 150-180...
depicted the Twelve Labours of Hercules and was made from marble from Marmara Island
Marmara Island
Marmara is a Turkish island in the Sea of Marmara. It is the largest island in the Sea of Marmara that is the center of Marmara district in Balıkesir Province...
about 150 - 180 AD.