Sarcophagus with Iphigeneia in Tauris

Excavated in 1828 by Cartoni and Tonelli on the Pianabella. Bought by Christian Bunsen from Tonelli in Rome, in 1830.
Date: c. 170-180 AD. W. 1.23, h. 0.65.

The relief shows, in three scenes, the story of Iphigeneia in Tauris, as told, among others, by Euripides. Orestes was sent by Apollo to retrieve the image of Artemis from the temple of Artemis in the land of the Taurians (modern Crimea in Ukraine). He was accompanied by Pylades. After arriving in Tauris the two men were arrested. They were then brought to Iphigeneia, daughter of the Mycenaean king Agamemnon, priestess of Artemis. It was customary to sacrifice foreign arrivals to Artemis, and Iphigeneia was now obliged to sacrifice also these two strangers. Orestes is her brother, but she believes he is dead.

In the left scene are six people, three in the foreground and three in the background. On the left side is a man or a woman, turned to the right. The central, female figure holds a square object. On the ground next to her stands a krater. Two male figures are approaching from the right. Two more figures in the background wear Phrygian caps, identifyng them as people from the East. This scene forms the beginning of the narrative. We are looking at Iphigeneia, her brother Orestes and his companion Pylades. Iphigeneia offers the men that she will only sacrifice one of the two, if the other will bring a letter to Greece. Through this request Orestes realizes that he is standing in front of his sister. The scene shows Iphigeneia holding the letter.

In the centre are four male figures. In the middle a person with a cloak over the head is sitting on a stone. His head is supported by his right arm. Opposite this person is a male figure, leaning on a pillar and supporting his head with his raised right hand. With his other hand he holds a stick that reaches to the ground. Behind the person sitting on a stone a bearded head wearing a Phrygian cap can be seen. This man is leaning on a spear. A further bearded man is armed with Roman armour. In his left hand is a staff. We are looking at Orestes, sitting on a rock, lost in thought and mourning. The figure standing in front of him is his friend Pylades.

In the scene on the right are six figures. On the right edge of the relief is a bearded male figure sitting on a rock. In his right hand is a sceptre. Behind him stands a beardless male figure wearing a Phrygian cap. He is leaning on a spear with his right arm. To the left stands a female figure. In her lowered right hand she holds a torch upside down, in her raised left hand is a small female figure. This small figure holds a bow with the left hand, while the right hand reaches back over the shoulder to take an arrow from a quiver. To the left are two male persons, almost completely naked, with their hands tied behind their backs.The final, male figure wears a Phrygian cap. With his left hand he holds a lance, in the right hand is a rope, with which the two men in front of him are tied together. This scene forms the end of the narrative. We are looking at Iphigeneia holding the statue of Artemis, and at the two prisoners with a guard. By now Orestes has revealed his identity to Iphigeneia. The seated figure is Thoas, king of Tauris. He informs about the rites for the sacrifice. Iphigeneia explains that she would like to clean the strangers and the statue in the sea. Thoas agrees that this must be done, and suspects nothing. Iphigeneia tells Thoas that he must remain in the temple and cleanse the hall with torches. The end of the story is not depicted: Iphigeneia, Orestes, and Pylades take the opportunity to flee to Greece by ship.

Inv. nr. Sk 845. Paschetto nr. 305? Arachne 104097. Photo: Wikimedia (category "Ancient Roman sarcophagi in the Antikensammlung Berlin"), Sailko.