Ancient depictions: reliefs

R01 - Relief of the lighthouse on the Torlonia Relief from Portus.
The lighthouse is largely covered by a passing ship. The fire, painted red, is burning in the cylinder. Next to it is a statue of a figure holding a sceptre or lance, possibly Claudius or Nero. There seem to be four storeys below the cylinder. In the right part of the first storey is a large, arched opening. In the interior opus reticulatum seems visible. In the right side of the lighthouse is another arched opening with what seems to be a staircase in the interior. The second storey is very low. Towards the right is a small window. The next two storeys have a door, not in the centre. In the right side of the fourth storey is a small window.

Photos: Fondazione Torlonia and Annewies van den Hoek (detail of the lower part).

R02 - Relief of the lighthouse on the Torlonia Relief from Portus: female figure with the lighthouse on her head in the upper left corner.
The lighthouse on the head of the female figure has four storeys, including the cylinder. The fire has a few traces of red paint. In the centre of the first three storeys are doors or windows. The figure is probably the personification of Portus.

Photo: Annewies van den Hoek.

R03 - Relief from a tomb on the Isola Sacra.
The relief was above the entrance of the tomb. It has a depiction of a ship and a dolphin, the lighthouse, and the personification of Portus with a bull. The lighthouse has three floors. Lines on the bottom storey suggest the use of large blocks of stone. In this storey is a large, rectangular opening. The other two storeys have arched openings.

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Photo: Karivieri 2020, p. 61 fig. 2 and cat. nr. 3.

R04 - Relief on a sarcophagus from the Isola Sacra necropolis, tomb 90: a ship approaching the lighthouse and a tavern scene.
To the left a ship is approaching the lighthouse. It is accompanied by a small boat. To the right is a bar, where a woman and a man are being served. In the centre a dolphin is depicted, perhaps indicating the name of the bar. The lighthouse has four storeys, including the cylinder. The first three have vertical lines, obviously slit windows.

Photo: ICCD E069953.

R05 - Relief found in 1797 in Portus, now in the Vatican Museums.
A depiction of two Genii, each holding a cornucopiae and a lighthouse. Below the Genii a damaged figure (left) and a snake (right), and the Greek text "Good speed to the (Alexandrian grain) fleet" (euploia toi stoloi). Presumably the personifications of Portus and Alexandria. On the panel in between Alpha Omega and Chi Rho.

EDR120079. Photo: Vatican Museums.

R06 - Relief of the lighthouse on a travertine block, probably from a tomb to the south of Ostia, now outside the museum in Ostia.
The lighthouse has four storeys, including the cylinder. In the centre of the first storey is a large, arched opening.

Photo: Giovanni Lattanzi.

R07 - Relief with a depiction of two ships and the lighthouse. Reused in the cathedral (duomo) of Pisa.
The lighthouse has five storeys, including the cylinder. In the first storey is an arched opening. In the lower four storeys are slit windows. The fourth storey looks like a cylinder.

Photo: Massimiliano David.

R08 - Sarcophagus of three ships and a lighthouse, said to have been found in Ostia, now in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.
The lighthouse has three floors. Lines on the storeys suggest the use of large blocks of stone. In the second storey and third storey are windows. There seems to be a fence around the fire.

Photo: Wikimedia, Marie-Lan Nguyen.

R09 - Relief of a ship approaching the lighthouse. Villa Medici (rear facade), Rome. Place of discovery unknown.
Three storeys can be seen and the lower part of the cylinder. In the centre of each storey is a large, arched opening, the middle one beginning quite high, as if it is a window. The first two storeys and arches are much higher than the third.

Photo: Lynne Lancaster.

R10 - Aquari sarcophagus (Annona sarcophagus). Found in Rome, now in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Rome.
Sarcophagus with a depiction of a female figure to the left of Annona, supporting a lighthouse with her right hand. The lighthouse has three storeys with windows. The figure has been interpreted as the personification of Portus.

Photo: Wikimedia, Folegandros.

R11 - Loculus-slab from Rome, now in the Vatican Museums.
The lighthouse has four storeys, including the cylinder. They are getting lower towards the top. In the centre of the first three storeys are large, arched openings.

Photo: EDCS-30301154.

R12 - Funerary relief from Rome, Catacombs of Praetextatus.
The lighthouse has three storeys, but no cylinder. In the centre of the each storey is a large, square or rectangular opening. Lines on the storeys suggest the use of large blocks of stone.

Amedick 1991, nr. 143.