Sarcophagus of the Satrap







It was found in room VI of Hypogee A. The inner face of the sarcophagus made of Pentelikon marble is human-shaped. It is called the Sarcophagus of Satrap because the figure in Persian clothes, which is in the center of the compositions on its two long and one short faces, is interpreted as "satrap" (provincial governor). However, it is possible that the figure in question represents a local king who was loyal to the Persian great king. On one of the long sides of the sarcophagus, the satrap/king is in his palace and probably in preparation for hunting. Grooms and servants await instructions from my seated person. A quadriga (chariot) stands in front of the satrap/king. The chariot's horses, with their graceful depictions, have the characteristics of purebred oriental horses. A groom is depicted standing on the frame of the car. In the center of the other long face of the sarcophagus, the old satrap or king is shown hunting deer and panther on a horse. There is a figure of a horseman participating in the hunt on his left, and two male figures, one of which is depicted as falling from his horse, on the right. There are four young men who are interpreted as servants or servants to help the hunt, on the short face where the satrap or king figure is not shown. On the other short face, the satrap/king returning to the palace after the hunt is depicted in a banquet scene with his wife and servants. Although the identity of the owner of the sarcophagus, which was placed between 440-370 BC with a broad dating based on its reliefs, cannot be determined definitively, King of Sidon II. It has been suggested that it may have belonged to Baalsillem.


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