Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus

The Great Ludovisische battle sarcophagus is a Roman sarcophagus of marble Proconnesian of the third century after Christ. He is 1.53 meters high, 2.73 m wide and 1.37 m deep. It consists of two parts: the box is the property of the Museo Nazionale Romano at the Palazzo Altemps in Rome, the cover is located in the Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz.

History

The sarcophagus was discovered in 1621 in the Vigna Bernusconi at the Porta Tiburtina, which suggests that he was once situated outside the city limits in a tomb on the Via Tiburtina. He came as a gift from the Chapter of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the antiquities collection of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi art-loving, from where the name originates. Since box and cover in the Villa Ludovisi were set up at different locations, the knowledge was soon lost to the togetherness. The box was in 1900 in the possession of the Italian state, the lid came on unexplained way in Austrian private ownership. After he enters the 1916 Vienna art trade, bought him Carl von Opel for the Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz. During World War II, the lid was damaged there and then restored or supplemented. Gerhart Rodenwaldt suspected at the beginning of the 20th century context. Cultural Agreement between Italy and Germany finally made ​​a supplementary cast for both museums possible.

Description

The presentation is similar to the Portonaccio Sarcophagus. On his chest front a battle scene between Romans and barbarians is shown. Because of their costume and attributes of the barbarians were identified as Germans. At the center of the box front, a victorious general is shown. The presentation is repeated in a certain way on the lid.