SARCOPHAGUS WITH A MARRIAGE SCENE, C2 CE. SAN SABA The church of S. Saba on the lesser Aventine has an ancient history. According to legend, it was built on the site of a C6 oratory where St Silvia, mother of pope Gregory the Great, came to pray. Ruins underneath the church have found a C7 oratory and possibly a barracks for the IVth cohort of the ancient fire service, the Vigiles. The oratory was run by Greek monks and by the C9 this was the most important and powerful monastery in Rome. Probably by that time this huge sarcophagus was reused for a prominent member of the community. In origin it was for a married couple who we see twice: the wife at the left corner, the husband at the right, and at the centre, between strigilated panels, is the couple at the moment in their wedding when they take each other's right hand as a symbol of their union. A face between their heads is probably Juno's. Both faces were disfigured, probably for Christian reuse.
This #SarcophagusSaturday we're in the porch of #SanSaba on the #Aventine hill in #Rome to find a magnificent C3 #sarcophagus with a husband and wife joined in marriage by #Juno. #AncientBluesky 🏺
