Klazomenian sarcophagi

Klazomenische sarcophagi are a form of ancient Greek clay sarcophagi.

Klazomenische sarcophagi were named after the Ionian- Greek city Klazomenai in which one, apart from Smyrna, most of these sarcophagi found. A small number was found in Rhodes, Samos and Lesbos, and at Ephesus. Presumably, the sarcophagi were produced in Klazomenai. They are dated from 550 ( Spätarchaik ) to 470 BC ( early classical ). They consist of coarse clay in brown to pink shades. On the sarcophagus, a rectangular broad frame is attached, which was provided with a whitish plated and painted.

The large clay sarcophagi were made ​​and fired in one piece. The workshops were well near the necropolis. The kilns were obviously built around the blanks which have been fired on the spot. It is not expected due to the long production time from the fact that after the death of the sarcophagi were added to Bestattenden in order, but that they were either purchased or produced during his lifetime to supply. The 350 -kilogram coffins had then only a short distance to the resting place of the deceased are brought. This was taken the day after his death at the funeral there and placed in the sarcophagus, which was already sunk down to the edge sticking out of the ground in the soil. Therefore, the tubs are also painted more than a decoration strip. After that, the sarcophagi were covered with a stone slab. After the ceremony, a mound of earth was piled up.

In the first, about 20 years, the sarcophagi were decorated only with ornaments. After that they show in the header and footer also figurative representations. In the headliner, which are higher than the skirting boards were mostly hunting, fighting and racing scenes, executed in black-figure style. A small portion was carried out in the Attic red-figured style. Details were not scored, but are painted with white paint. Of these internal drawings rarely remains are preserved, so the images appear as silhouettes. The images often refer to the world of ideas and the ideals of the local upper class. The baseboards were usually shown fighting animals pictures in outline drawings. They are based on the late animal frieze style. Frequently encountered ornaments on the sidebars are palmettes and cable pattern. One of the earliest recognizable painters is the Borelli Painter. Also recognized was a painter who was named to the Notnamen Albertinum - painter, and the late datable Hopkinson painter.

In museums there are today usually only the framework of the sarcophagi, of which the wells were cut off after finding, in order to facilitate transport; also you measure only the painted parts with a value.