Fragment of a Muse Sarcophagus

Culture: Roman

Period: 3rd century A.D.

Material: Marble

Dimensions: 35.5 cm x 25 cm x 7.5 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 3084

Provenance: East German private collection, 1989 auctioned off in a German auction house.

Condition: Fragment of excellent quality.

Description: The right upper corner of a muse sarcophagus depicts Clio with chiton and himation and a scroll in her left hand. In the back a stretched wall hanging. Clio was responsible for the epic poetry and historiography. Like all muses she is one of Zeus and Mnemosyne’s daughters. The feathers on her forehead are to be interpreted as trophies, which she and her sisters won during the competition with the sirens. A style-wise similar sarcophagus is in the collection Mazzarini in Palazzo Rospigliosi in Rome.