Art Hist Paper 1

I chose to write about the "Sarcophagus Depicting a Battle Between Soldiers and Amazons (Warrior Women)". A sarcophagus is a stone coffin usually bearing sculpture or inscriptions. Supposedly, This Roman cultured sarcophagus was dedicated for an important Roman soldier. It was built some time in between 140 A.D. to 170 A.D. and made out of marble. Sarcophagus were officially made by the Greeks, hence the pediment. Although this sarcophagus was built by the Romans they still added the triangular roof at the top of the coffin, which was also invented by the Greeks. The scene on this coffin is of a battle between men soldiers and female warrior amazons. The battle scene that takes place on this casket is very interesting; it depicts different kinds of symbolism, emotion, and is more expressive. As i started to analyze this sarcophagus, the first thing I noticed was the five columns at the top of the pediment running downwards, having a loons head at the end. That being the first part, and the vivid battle scene displayed right under that. The first thing that came to my mind when i saw the lions was how lions were used as a protective guardian figure in the ancient egyptian times, and it seemed as if these lions, or guardian figures, were watching over from up above, and protecting them. Also another thing i found interesting that was a little out of place to be put on this battle scene'd coffin was the image each four corners had. They all had the same image of a man and a woman kneeling down and also both faced down. the man is higher and looks as if he's on top of the woman, and it seems as if they're praying, or may even be asking for forgiveness. Their facial expression seems very focused and determined as to what they are doing. The four corners seem the most calm from the whole scene. As for the battle, which is completely opposite, has a very violent and vulgar environment being shown. The battle scene has a lot of raging actions being shown. The horses