Etruscan sarcophagus in the National Etruscan Museum, 530–520 BCE
The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods. The Etruscans were well known for their terracotta sculptures and funerary art, predominantly sarcophagi and urns. This sarcophagus is a late sixth-century BCE Etruscan anthropoid sarcophagus found at the Banditaccia necropolis in Caere, and is now in the National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia, Rome.
Etruscan terracotta cinerary urn with spouses on lid, Caere
A different example in the Louvre, Caere (modern Cerveteri), 510–500 BCE. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
Banquet slab found at Poggio Civitate. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
Museo-etrusco-di-villa-giulia---sarcofago-degli-sposi 31300412461 o
Heads of the couple, Rome. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
Pittore forse attico, affreschi della tomba del triclinio, 500-475 ac ca, 01
Fresco in the Triclinium Tomb of the Funerary Banquets. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
Detail of the feet, Rome. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
Sarcophage des époux - Musée du Louvre AGER Cp 5194.1 - photo 3
The Sarcophagus of Spouses in the Louvre. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
Sarcophagus of the Spouses from Villa Giulia in Rome
Sarcòfag dels esposos del segle VI aC, de la ciutat etrusca de Cere (actual Cerveteri), ara al Museu Nacional Etrusc de la Vil·la Giulia de Roma. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
Smaller similar piece, also in the Villa Giulia museum
Smaller similar piece, also in the Villa Giulia museum. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses is a tomb effigy considered one of the masterpieces of Etruscan art. The Etruscans lived in Italy between two main rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, and were in contact with the Ancient Greeks through trade, mainly during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods.
The sarcophagus cover is made out of terracotta and was once brightly painted. It depicts a man and woman lying on a klinē, a dining couch with cushions to help keep the spouses propped up, all of which have been stylized. Description →
Etruscan culture had an appreciation for taking care of the remains of their loved ones; this is seen by how many resources were put into creating their tombs and funerary art, so much so that their cemeteries were often called the "cities of the dead" or necropolis. Cremation →
The funerary rituals that the Etruscans created ranged from a simple hut and small gathering to those a more elaborate space for loved ones such as a tomb or other funerary art or having mosaics and relief sculptures. Rituals →
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