East Greek sarcophagus
- Gallery: Room 13
- Culture: East Greek
- Made in: Clazomenae (historic)
- Date: 510BC-480BC
- Object type: sarcophagus
- Materials: terracotta
- Museum number: 1896,0615.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
Before you stands an East Greek "East Greek Sarcophagus" from Clazomenae, a place known for its fine painted terracotta sarcophagi. This one is richly decorated both inside and out with dynamic scenes of battle, horsemen, chariots, and mythical creatures.
The lid is a striking feature, divided into panels showing sphinxes, centaurs, and heroic hoplites fighting off archers. The intricate geometric patterns and bands of meander reflect a strong decorative tradition. Notice the Aeolic-style columns painted within the panels, which are a signature touch on these Clazomenian pieces.
Made around 510–480 B.C., this sarcophagus was crafted in small sections and fired in a large kiln. It is decorated using the black-figure technique with notable use of purple and white to highlight details—an element preserved better inside the sarcophagus walls than on its external parts.
The artwork gives us a glimpse into the artistic style and funeral customs of ancient Clazomenae, where scenes of battle and myth were rendered for the afterlife, balancing beauty with a sense of solemnity.
See it in person
East Greek sarcophagus is on display in Room 13 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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