Highlights of the collection
Third quarter of the 3rd century AD
71 x 216 x 67 cm
Carved white Proconessian marble
MNAT P-60
A strigillated sarcophagus from the Necropolis of Tarraco.
The front is divided into five panels, three with figurative themes and two with strigils. In the middle there is reading scene with a seated philosopher or poet (identified by his copious beard, long hair and crest on his forehead) dressed in a tunic and a pallium. He is reading a book in front of a herm with two youths listening to him.
On the ends are depictions of the persons whose remains would have been in the sarcophagus. On the right, the man, represented as a philosopher dressed in a pallium and carrying a book. On the left, the wife, depicted as a Muse wearing a tunic and cloak and carrying a book in her hands.
