Alcestis on Roman Sarcophagi

Abstract

The sarcophagus of Caius Junius Euhodus and Metilia Acte belongs to a small group of Roman sarcophagi which depict the death of Alcestis. Unlike most other members of the group, however, the Euhodus sarcophagus also portrays Alcestis's return from death in a prominent position on the front of the box. This variation in the use of the mythological theme suggests that while in most cases the story of Alcestis was chosen because of its pathos, the theme of possible triumph over death may also have appealed to some of the clients who commissioned the sarcophagi. The inscription of the Euhodus sarcophagus confirms that the couple for whom it was made subscribed to the cult of the Magna Mater, a cult which evidently did believe in the possibility of life after death. The language of symbolism on this monument, however, seems to be derived not from mystery rites but from familiar scenes of everyday life. The scene in which Alcestis is restored to her husband by Heracles bears a strong resemblance to a conventional wedding scene. Such a visual reference would underscore the theme of reunion implicit in the story of Alcestis and Admetus. Euhodus and Metilia, whose portrait faces appear on the mythological figures, expected to be united in death at least in a physical sense, since their bodies were to be interred in the same sarcophagus. In view of their religious beliefs, they may have hoped for a reunion in a life after death as well.

Cite this work

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 19 citations exist upstream.