Sarcophagus of the spouses

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Sarcophagus of the Spouses, late 6th century BC terracotta Etruscan anthropoid sarcophagus, 1.14m high by 1.9m wide, and is made of painted terracotta. It depicts a married couple reclining at a banquet together in the afterlife (in a scene similar to that from contemporary Greek vases) and was found in 19th century excavations at the necropolis of Cerveteri (ancient Caere).

The smiling faces with their almond shaped eyes and long braided hair, as well as the shape of the feet of the bed, reveal Greek influence. The marked contrast between the high relief busts and the very flattened legs is typically Etruscan.The Etruscan artist's interest focused on the upper half of the figures, especially on the vibrant faces and gesticulating arms.

This piece also known as the sarcophagus dei Sposi. It is very similar to the Sarcophagus from Cerveteri, perhaps by the same artist. Both portray the affection of a man and a woman, an image never before seen in the Greek culture.