THE PORTONACCIO SARCOPHAGUS, C. 180 CE. PALAZZO MASSIMO ALLE TERME This, along with the Great Ludovisi Sarcophagus in palazzo Altemps, is one of the two absolute masterpieces of sarcophagus relief work found so far in Rome. Like its fellow, it is a battle sarcophagus, though somewhat earlier in date. Found in 1931 on via di Portonaccio along the via Tiburtina, it immediately entered the state collections. What at first appears to be a confusing mixture of figures gradually resolves itself into a series of sections. The main central section shows the Roman cavalry smashing into the enemy infantry with devastating effect. The deceased, his facial features left blank, is at upper centre, in the thick of the mêlée. Framing this scene on either side is, above, a display of arms and armour and below, captured barbarians in despair. The upright of the lid shows at left the victor's wife, again with an unfinished face, as a virtuous matron raising her children. At centre the couple are shown in the dextrarum iunctio, at their wedding, and at right the husband is seated, showing clemency to his defeated enemies.

For #SarcophagusSaturday we return to #PalazzoMassimo to be dazzled by the #sarcophagus of a military man, perhaps one Aulus Iulius Pompilius, who died in #MarcusAurelius' wars against the #Marcomanni and #Quadi tribes. Pressures on the different ethnic groups in central #Europe strained the border.