Sarcophagi and urns: highlights

Sarcophagi were produced on the west part of the Pianabella, at a locality called Procoio. Here parts were found of unfinished coffins. Compartments can be distinguished that were to be finished by junior and senior artists. On a number of sarcophagi found in Ostia features have been recognized that are unique for this workshop, setting them apart from the sarcophagi made in the city of Rome.

On this page we present a few of the sarcophagi and urns that have emerged on the Pianabella, apart from the "Pianabella-sarcophagus" that we mentioned earlier and is shown on the menu-page. Some of the finds ended up in Berlin, Copenhagen and Rome. More information about these objects is in the section "Museums worldwide".

Sarcophagus with Iphigeneia in Tauris. Excavated in 1828. Date: c. 170-180 AD.
Berlin, Antikensammlung der Staatliche Museen, inv. nr. Sk 845. Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.

Sarcophagus with a Bacchic scene. Excavated in 1834-1835 on the Pianabella. Date: Hadrianic.
Copenhagen, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, inv. nr. 846. Photo: Flickr, AncientDigitalMaps.

Sarcophagus of Caius Iunius Euhodus and Metilia Acte with the myth of Alcestis. Excavated in 1824-1825. Date: 160-170 AD.
Rome, Vatican Museums, Museo Chiaramonti, inv. nr. 1195. Photo: Vatican Museums.

Funerary relief of a couple and their daughter. Excavated in 1825. Date: late-Antonine.
Rome, Palazzo Doria-Pamphili. Photo: Arachne.

Many objects that are still in Ostia emerged on different occasions (only a few systematic excavations have taken place on the Pianabella). More information about these objects is in the "Virtual museum of Ostia".

Sarcophagus with a centauromachy. Date: middle of the second century AD.
Museum Ostia, inv. nr. 14451=16651. Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.

Relief with a funerary meal.
Museum Ostia, inv. nr. 47824. Photo: Descoeudres p. 313 fig. 9.

Urn of Caius Larcius Felix with race chariots. Date: second half of the second or early third century AD.
Museum Ostia, inv. nr. 62566. Photo: Mimmo - Bruno 2018, 19.

Urn of Sempronia Rufina with hunters. Museum Ostia, inv. nr. 36415. Photos: Arachne.