SARCOPHAGUS WITH CLIPEUS AND EROTES, C. 250-300 CE. BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN This large white Proconnesian marble sarcophagus has a simple theme: love, love, love. Against a smooth background, two mourning Erotes (or genii) are leaning on their downward-turned torches, symbols of death. Two further Erotes, on a larger scale than the other and truly chubby, occupy both sides of the front, flying with wings spread and legs kicking as if swimming. On the ground at left is a quiver, and at right a bow. The heads of the Erotes are punctuated by the short drill, giving body to their hair. The two main Erotes are looking away from the clipeus, as if in sorrow at the end of love. The husband and wife in the clipeus are shown in formal dress: he is wearing the toga contabulata, with its distinctive chest band, and she is generously built and wearing a clinging dress. But her face was never finished.

Love is in the air in today's #SarcophagusSaturday, as we stumble upon a huge two-person #sarcophagus in a ruined hall of the #BathsofDiocletian. Crossed #cornucopiae below the #clipeus suggest the fruitfulness of love. But the wife's face was never carved. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺