그리스 십자가의 방 (Sala a Croce Greca). 바티칸 박물관(Musei Vaticani)

그리스 십자가의 방 (Sala a Croce Greca).

바티칸 박물관(Musei Vaticani). 바티칸 시국

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarcophagus of St. Helena

This monumental porphyry sarcophagus was created to receive the remaines of Helena, mother of Constantine, who died around 335 AD. Her mausoleum was in the area of Tor Pignattara, between Via Prenestina and Via Labicana. In 1154, the sarcophagus was moved to ST. John in Lateran and used for the burial of Pope Anastasius IV. It arrived in the Vatican in 1777 and, restored by Gaspare Sibilla and Giovanni Pierantoni, was placed on two lions sculpted by Francesco Antonio Franzoni. The sarcophagus is decorated with scenes of battle, with armed cavalry bearing down on various babarian prisoners.

In the upper sections of the long sides, there are two busts of the imperial family whilst on the lid we have cupids and winged victories holding up garlands. Tow lions, one sleeping and the other crowching, lie on the solpes of the lid. The theme of military victory has suggested that the sarcophagus was originally destined to hold the remains of an emperor, Constantius Chlorus (292-306 AD) or Constantine himself (306-337 AD) and that, for reasons we do not know, was used instead to receive the body of St. Helena (inv. 238)

 

 

 

 

Sarcophagus of Constance

The monumental sarcophagus in porphyry, the "regal" stone par excellence, was made to hold th body of one of the daughters of teh emperor Constantine, most probably Constance who died in 354 AD. She was then buried in the mausoleum that takes her name, alongside the Basilica of St. Agnes, on the Via Nomentana. The four sides of the sarcophagus are decorated with a profusion of vines, within which we can see cupids bearing garlands.

The lid, instead, has festoons of plants linked to masks. The Dionysian theme of the vintage is also repeated in the extremely fine decorations on the Mausoleum of Constance. Between 1467 and 1471, the sarcophagus was moved to St. Mark's Square, arriving in the Vatican in 1790, drawn by 40 bullocks. Here it was positioned above the tow lionesses created to serve as its support by Francesco Antonio Franzoni. (inv. 237)

 

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