SARCOPHAGUS FRONT WITH SCENES FROM THE MYTH OF PERSEPHONE, 200-230 CE. PALAZZO MATTEI DI GIOVE A confusion of figures fills this sarcophagus front, with parallel scenes of movement in chariots at both sides and a scene of static flower-picking at centre left. Starting at centre is the small kneeling figure of Persephone, with an Eros pulling up her velificatio while another is steadying her vase. She's oriented toward the left but is looking anxiously to the right. The most dramatic scene is at right, where she is being abducted by Hades in a chariot heading rightward, preceded by Hermes, a clear reference to the soul's passage to the Underworld. Three goddesses, Athena, Artemis, and Hera, seem to be trying to rescue her, but she can't escape the clutches of Hades, who is ominously facing outward at the viewer. At left is the poignant scene of her mother Demeter searching for her. The winged figure preceding Demeter's chariot is Trepidatio, Fear.
#SarcophagusSaturday at #palazzoMattei di #Giove in #Rome offers us a chaotic scene of the abduction of #Persephone in three moments, starting at centre with the maiden innocently picking flowers, then at right where she's abducted by #Hades, and at left where #Demeter seeks her. #AncientBluesky 🏺
