Ludavisi Battle Sarcophagus. Late Imperial Rome. C. 250 CE. Marble

Form:

- Incredibly deep relief

- White Marble

- Sarcophagus

Function:

- Sarcophagus

Context:

- Beginning to see more and more sarcophagi in Roman culture as they move into the 3rd century

- Previous to the switch to sarcophagi, most Romans were cremated

- Must have been a sarcophagus for a wealthy individual

- Chaotic scene represents the disorganization and chaos in the empire at the time of its creation

- Turning away from classical era art and idealized form of the body

Content:

- Romans depicted themselves as heroic vs their enemies, the goths, are almost like caricatures, with puffy noses and cheeks, along with wild emotions

- Piled on top of one another

- Carvings are so deep the forms are almost completely detached

- In the center at the top is the hero, he is coming in on his horse, twisting around opening his right arm bringing his horse along with him

- Horse is off-set against him, his horse is wild compared to him seemingly unfazed

- Romans look stern and serious

- Seeming to be making a decision to be merciful or to slay the preisoner

- Figures at the bottom appear to get smaller

- Kind of looking down from above

- Shields create a canopy and kind of frame people in the sculpture

- Smooth texture of the Romans contrast the rough texture given to the Goths

- LOTS of movement in the sculpture

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