Sarcophagi of Arles

It is about the census of principal the Sarcophage S carved found with Arles, primarily in the districts of the Alyscamps and Trinquetaille where the Nécropole S arlésiennes were. Because of the very great number of works preserved at Arles, as well in the necropoles as in the places of worship of the the Middle Ages, an at the same time quantitative and qualitative historical approach is possible, recalling the evolution of these funerary tanks between the IE and Life centuries. Today still in spite of the yielded parts, the city and its Museum of Arles and Provence antiques have the second collection of sarcophagi paléochrétiens after that of the Musées of the Vatican.

Sarcophagi

Funerary works arlésiennes present a large variety of sculptures: characters, topics mythological, scenes of hunting and pastoral, narrative compositions and as from the end of the 3rd century, Christian reasons. Technical evolutions are also noted: simple and double register, presence of niches, Low-relief and round bump, etc…

On the level of materials, the evolution of this funerary sculpture shows a quasi-exlusif use of the local stone (calcareous to tighten Fontvieille) with, then in IIe and IIIe centuries, a passion for the marble often of Proconnèse or the East with limestone imitations, and with the 4th century an obliteration of the stone of Fontvieille. This relates to only the carved works and not the mass of the sarcophagi.

Some details as the presence of holes with drinking in some Christian sarcophagi clarifies the process of christianization and shows the weight of the traditions in the company arlésienne in the course of conversion.

Today, the majority of these sarcophagi are in Arles with the Musée of Arles and Provence antiques and in the churches of the city, in particular in the basilica Saint-Trophime. Some parts are also exposed in Marseilles and Paris with the Louvre.

Ier century

IIe century

The sarcophagi of this century are represented by pagan parts often including/understanding garlands like reasons for decoration.

sarcophagus of Hippolyte, found with Trinquetaille in 1891; out of marble (middle of the 2nd century)
sarcophagus representing the myth of Prométhée, currently to Louvre
lid with kliné
falls from Cornélia Jacaena, out of marble
sarcophagus of Léda, out of limestone of Fontvieille intended for Licinia Magna, called Matrona; sarcophagus ordered by his/her three brothers and sisters and her husband, Centurion in the IIIe legion of Auguste
sarcophagus of Attia Esyché, out of marble
sarcophagus of Junius Messianus, decorated of two loves and a cartridge. Out of limestone of Fontvieille.
sarcophagus of Julia Tyrrania, out of stone of Fontvieille
sarcophagus of Psyché

IIIe century

sarcophagus of child to the loves deadened (in Marseilles)
sarcophagus of saint Hilaire of Arles. This marble monument is also called sarcophagus of Prométhée in reference to its decoration. According to the historians it is about a pagan burial dated from the Années 240, re-used at the 5th century for Hilaire saint and installed with the Alyscamps. In 1822, the town of Arles in fact gift with Louis XVIII. This sarcophagus is composed of the pagan tank decorated with the myth of Prométhée offered to Louis XVIII and today preserved at the Musée of Louvre, a lid remained in Arles and being marked Hilaire, priest of the divine Law, rests here and of a large marble plate (epitaph) which celebrates the career of this famous bishop. An exposure of this recomposed burial was presented to the Musée of Arles and Provence antiques to at the beginning of 2007.

sarcophagus of Flavius Mémorius; Mythological scenes and of hunting with a Christian inscription (It probable that the tank was cut one century earlier, i.e. at the 3rd century, and is re-used).
Other sarcophagus with scenes of hunting, perhaps from the 4th century.

sarcophagus known as of Dioscures or the Marriage Romain , out of marble of vertically veined Proconnèse; found in February 1844 with the Alyscamps. It is about one of the first sarcophagi with Christian reasons: on the side faces, Christ multiplying the breads and the teaching of Pierre. He is dated from the end of IIIe or the beginning of the 4th century.

IVe century

sarcophagus of the Christ teaching , known as sometimes of the Good-byes (C. 310)
three found sarcophagi with Trinquetaille in 1974 (second quarter of the 4th century): one of them, that of Maria Romana Celsa is gone back to 328; another present of large resemblance to the dogmatic sarcophagus known as (in Rome), gone back to this time.
sarcophagus of Orante or Orant .
sarcophagus of pure Suzanne , with a double plank and the portrait of late in a imago clipéata (C. 340). The carved scenes recovering the sarcophagus symbolize the safety of the heart obtained as the prayer expresses it: … Delivers my heart as you delivered Jonas of the marine monster; young Hebrews of the furnace; Daniel of the lion's den; Suzanne of the hands of the old men .
two sarcophagi known as of Red Sea : one is with Saint-Trophime, the other with the museum (middle of the 4th century)
sarcophagus of the cathedral : with double register and decoration of columns (middle of the 4th century)
sarcophagus of Hydra Terulla and his/her daughter, out of marble of Carrara marble, one of the first sarcophagus with like only reason, Christ and her disciples (second half of the 4th century)
two sarcophagi with Christ in a central panel, out of Carrara marble and found into 1949 in Alyscamps (last quarter of the 4th century)
two sarcophagi known as of the Nativity : one out of Carrara marble, the other out of marble identifé like Saint-Happy in the the Pyrenees (last quarter of the 4th century).
sarcophagus of Concordius , out of marble (C. 385); it is today exposed with the Musée of Arles and Provence antiques.
sarcophagus similar to that of Concordius, currently in Louvre
sarcophagus known as with the trees , out of marble of Proconnèse, horizontally veined (fine of the 4th century)
sarcophagus known as of Anastasie which would have been used in re-employment with the tomb of the bishop Eon as Arles died into 502.

Ve century

sarcophagus of Géminus; this sarcophagus preserved at Saint-Trophime, is remarkable by the technique of sculpture in sculpture in the round and the sobriety of its composition. (c.410)
lids with pastoral scenes representing shepherd and ewe (beginning of the 5th century)

See too

Sources

Paul-Albert Février: archaeological Congress of France, 134e session (1976) COUNTRY of ARLES , pages 317-359, French company of archeology - Paris, 1979

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