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full size in new window. | Title / Description: Damascus - Palm Sarcophagus
Provenance: Damascus, Syria
Commentary: This picture shows a sarcophagus from the Roman period. In general, art from Palmyra during this era was made according to the local interpretation of the Greco-Roman canon with some strong influence from Central Asia. This influence is understandable given the nature of the commerce which Palmyra was engaged in at the time and the city's consequential cosmopolitan nature. This specific sarcophagus depicts a couple lounging on a couch, ostensibly in the midst of a meal. While the setup and composition of this sarcophagus betrays clear Roman influence, the modeling of the figures themselves seem to show more of an Asian influence than is typically found in Roman stonecarving.
Bibliography:
The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land;
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East, vol. 4
Author of Commentary: Adam Mendelson
Source: Phinney, D. Nathan Leander Keck slide collection
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