A PHOENICIAN LIMESTONE SARCOPHAGUS LID

CIRCA 5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A PHOENICIAN LIMESTONE SARCOPHAGUS LID
CIRCA 5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.
Preserving the upper portion, the oversized oval face with large, bulging almond-shaped eyes, the lids well defined, the thin brows angled down and merging with the bridge of the nose, the fleshy lips pressed together, the stylized Egyptianizing tripartite wig arching over the forehead and tucked behind the prominent ears, the lappets tapering
33½ in. (85.1 cm.) high

Provenance

French Private Collection, 1970.

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Lot Essay

Phoenician sarcophagi are stylistically and functionally inspired by their Egyptian counterparts. Egyptianizing details are often misinterpreted, such as the tripartite wig on the present example. Some sarcophagi are more Greek in style with naturalistic features. For several examples and an explanation of the tradition see pp. 292-295 in Moscati, The Phoenicians.

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