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Lot 144

A Roman marble sarcophagus fragment

3 July 2019, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £3,187.50 inc. premium

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A Roman marble sarcophagus fragment
Circa 2nd Century A.D.
Carved in high relief, preserving a panther in profile to the left, the mouth ajar with teeth bared, the front leg outstretched, 21.5cm long

Footnotes

Provenance:
with Dr Christoph F. Leon, Basel in May 1998.

The panther was most associated with the god Dionysus, who was often accompanied by the exotic felines. Bacchic themes were popular as funerary motifs on sarcophagi, as they were considered to represent the importance of celebrating the life of the deceased rather than mourning the departed. Dionysus, as god of banqueting, was closely associated with the funerary banquet, an important aspect of Roman funerary tradition.

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