SARCOPHAGUS WITH THE MYTH OF ORESTES, C. 150 CE. VATICAN MUSEUMS This is an odd, ambiguous subject for a sarcophagus. Clytemnestra, queen of Mycenæ, and her lover, the king's cousin Ægisthus, murder the king Agamemnon - his wife wants revenge for his sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia, his cousin wants to carry on a blood feud. Anyway their kids Electra and Orestes get riled up about this and much suffering ensues. Here at centre we find Orestes, nude except for his cape and a sword, standing over the corpse of his mother whom he has just slain. At left is Ægisthus, also dead and in an awkward position, being dealt with by Orestes' chum Pylades. Back in time, at left, an old nurse is telling Electra of her father's murder as her attendants swoon around her. To the right of the central crime scene, two Erinyes or Furies emerge from behind a curtain. Below them, a slave with a scroll tries to avoid catching their attention. At far right Orestes is escaping them, seeking absolution.
An amazing #sarcophagus from c. 150 CE in the #VaticanMuseums for #SarcophagusSaturday with an excellent buffet of ancient sculptures atop it. The scene shows the #myth of #Orestes, and corpses litter the landscape, with vengeful Orestes wreaking havoc. The House of Atreus, eh! #AncientBluesky 🏺
