This beautiful sarcophagus is one of my favorite pieces of art from the ancient world. This “Sarcophagus of the Spouses” is Etruscan – the region northwest of present day Rome, roughly equivalent to Tuscany – and is from the 6th Century BC.
It’s a world-famous masterpiece of terracotta craftsmanship, and the ashes of two people were found inside. The couple is portrayed in the afterlife, reclining at a banquet with wine vessels in their hands.
The Villa Giulia Museum in Rome now owns the piece, and the backstory is that when the museum founder first saw the shattered clay coffin, he immediately purchased it for display – all 400 pieces!
The quality of my photos is less than sterling, but in my defense, I have a couple of excuses. First, the sarcophagus is now enclosed in glass (which is understandable), and there was no way to avoid reflections. Additionally, I was photographing on the sly, trying to avoid the roaming security guard and her stern imposition of the No-Photography Rule.
Funerary rites were important to Etruscans, so in addition to a beautifully detailed sarcophagus, the couple would have been interred in a colorful tomb.
I particularly enjoy the loving attitude that the couple shows each other. For these lovers, death is just another part of life to be experienced together – what a romantic notion, forever frozen in terracotta. For my money, this ancient masterpiece has few equals in the world.
THE LESSON
It didn’t happen often in the ancient world, but there were a few cultures which believed that women and men were equals. This Etruscan art is exceptional and moving because it portrays a couple in a timeless love. They were true companions in life and death, and they enjoyed a partnership for the ages. True love is timeless.
* * *
This post wraps up our Lessons From the Road Series. We’ve enjoyed writing the posts, and hope that you’ve enjoyed reading them. As travel bloggers, it’s sometimes easy to get caught up in the minutia of a destination or sight. But we’ve found that a step back for a big picture view makes the travel experience more meaningful and rewarding. This approach keeps things fresh for us, and hopefully, for you as well. Thanks for following along.
Happy Trails,
James
This post is part of our “Lessons From The Road Series.”
Photo Credit: 1. By Frank Axelsson via Wikimedia Commons
GALLIVANCE 
Impressive! Love the way you wrapped the review – and love story is also timeless!
Thanks Indah. This was a fun series and I plan to do more like it in the future. ~James
What a beautiful piece.
Thanks for the comment and for dropping by the blog Justina. This truly is beautiful, and it’s amazing that it has survived. ~James
Beautiful piece. Thanks for sneaking those photos, and sharing the story of them. Bet they were royalty!
I went into some Etruscan tombs in Tuscany and they weren’t pretty like this one, just cold stone.
Alison
Thanks Alison. The tomb in the post is also in the museum (I can’t imagine how they got it there.) One thing that I love about Etruscan art is that it’s so colorful and almost playful. ~James
This is an amazing piece of art. So glad you were able to sneak in a couple of pictures so you could share them with us.
Thanks Darlene. The detail on this piece is amazing, particularly given its age. I’ve dabbled in ceramics, and I can’t imagine how the artist did it. ~James
Another blogger with the photography disease. Impossible to control the temptation. Thanks for sticking your neck out for us James. A beautiful post.
Thanks Sue. Terri was my partner in crime on this one. She was my trusty lookout,
and we had a throat-clearing signal worked out. I had been to this museum and seen this piece years ago, but didn’t take any photos. I was not leaving this time without a few pix of one of my favorite works of ancient art. ~James
Oh good plan to have a look out! I will see if Dave is willing in future circumstances or whether he gives me the ‘Is that really necessary? look’. 🙂
Thanks. Enjoyed the series. Regards Thom.
Thanks very much Thom. I’m happy that you enjoyed the series. ~James
What a beautiful piece of artwork!! It is so exciting when travelling to see pieces such as this!
Thanks Le and David. There’s fantastic art all over the world, but it really is nice to see an exceptional piece that is personally appealing. ~James
I enjoyed your lessons from the road series. I, too, like the expression of their faces.
I agree Laura. The man appears to have a slight smile on his face. And what about those whizzy shoes the lady is wearing? ~James
I often find it difficult to understand the ‘no photography’ rule.
I’ve never understood the no-photo rule Andrew. If the art is a priceless painting or an old document, it’s reasonable that the museum wouldn’t allow flash photography. But a sculpture? ~James
Looks like you’re not alone Andrew. I stumbled into post which presents both sides of the argument, and I thought you might be interested. ~James
http://blogofthecourtier.com/2014/08/22/you-own-it-but-should-you-photograph-it/
I understand the bit about flash photography but not the falling over argument. Thanks for the link!
I love this series, such a wonderful departure from the norm and this post in particular was the perfect way to wrap it up…the couple remind me of you two and your travels through life together…
Thanks much Martha. I’m glad you enjoyed the series. It was fun to pull together. I thought that it’s amazing how much this piece says about the Etruscan culture. It’s too bad they were swallowed up by those macho, militaristic Romans. ~James
Glad you didn’t get caught snapping these pics. And also glad you shared them with us. You’re so right — not many statues or artwork, for that matter, featuring couples. And timeless? Let’s hope these bonds we’ve made with our spouses is just that! If not, it’s been a great time together during the earth part.
Thanks Rusha, and I couldn’t agree more. When it’s time to go, I want to go out together. It usually doesn’t happen that way, but it would be nice. ~James
This is gorgeous art. Wonderful it’s preserved and has withstood the test of time. A true adventurer takes risks: sneaks photographs. ❤ Thank you. What a novel idea: men and woman are equals. I would never have considered such a thing.
Enjoyed this series. Thanks for the photos and this post.
Very funny Tess. And the photo sneak was a funny incident. I think that the security guard had me pegged as a rule-breaker. She’d disappear through one doorway, and then reappear through another. Of course, she was probably bored out of her mind, and needed a bit of tourist-kicking stimulation. I know I would. ~James
😀 😀 Think of it as a risk for the better good. Us, your readers. Anyway, what’s the worst that could have happened? Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. They could have thrown you out and you’d miss all that gorgeous beauty.
A very beautiful story thanks.
Thanks very much. ~James
The Etruscan couple remind me of another couple I know…guess who?
Thanks Susan, you’re sweet. I’ve never been one for burial monuments, but having one like this would be dandy. Terri said that she just wants her tiny feet and those whizzy shoes. ~James
I’ve loved this series. You’ll have to run it again sometime (with new lessons 🙂 ).
It’s definitely moving to have them side by side like that. It’s definitely too rare through history to see women adequately respected.
Thanks Bronwyn, and I may just run this series again at some point. I just need to go out and get some new lessons. I read that male dominance in society goes back to early humans; when the biggest, strongest males were the hunters for the group. And when human societies advanced, it was a natural progression for the hunters to become the leader/king etc. Needless to say, given the number of female breadwinners these days, this is a concept that is incredibly outdated. ~James
Nice work on the sly pics James! Maybe in line for the next Bond movie? 😉
Yeah Chris, this security guard was circling like a barracuda. I’m sure she knew I was sneaking photos, but just couldn’t catch me. Pretty funny. ~James
I enjoyed the series and especially appreciated these photos and back story of this unique Etruscan antiquity. It is a beautiful symbol of love and equality. Ron and I obeyed the no photography rule in the Taj and other places only to be surrounded by iPhone photography going on en masse. We’ll have to come up with a similar system as yours. Sometimes ya just gotta break the rules. 🙂
Lynne, I understand the photography rules and obey them when, for instance, it says no flash photos of the Mona Lisa. And generally, I don’t just snap, snap, snap on the sly, but I’m not above a bit of sneaky shooting if it’s a really nice piece. I’m convinced that most museums forbid photography so visitors will buy postcards of the pieces in the gift shop. ~James
Good point, James.
A great series – thanks for the lessons. You seem to have managed two photos and the one of the feet is so neat – are those the woman’s feet in shoes?
Yes, those are the lady’s shoes. Even after 2600 years, aren’t they cool? And notice that the husband is barefoot, which shows even more how relaxed they are together. ~James
Beautiful piece – I love the picture of the feet too and noticed the shoes.
How adventurous of you to sneak pictures 🙂 I guess I’m more of a conformist than I thought. If there is a sign that says DON’T, I WON’T. 😉
I’m normally a rule follower as well Joanne, but since I visited this museum specifically to see this sarcophagus, I didn’t think a couple of photos would hurt. The true test for conformity: you’re driving on a desert road, and can see miles in all directions. You come to an intersection that is a four-way stop and you don’t see any cars. Do you stop or just blow through the intersection? Me, I blow through. ~James
LOL – well, I wouldn’t exactly blow through, I think I’d still at least slow down 😉
This is a fabulous work of art. Glad you two were able to capture some images. Beautiful backstory!
The backstory took a bit of internet poking around LuAnn, but I knew with all these skeletons there had to be a good story. And these skeletons definitely prove that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” ~James
It certainly is!
James & Terri, What a lovely post (and series) – when you two write the story of your life, you can title it “Partners in Love and Crimes of Passion”. 😉
Thanks so much for your commitment to bringing us things we might never have found without your intrepidness (is that a word?). It’s what keeps us coming back for more!
Thanks so much Jonelle for the kind words. This is exactly the type of post that I enjoy writing. There are tons of bloggers doing standard posts on this or that cathedral, but we try to find a perspective that’s new and interesting. And regular readers like you keep us motivated. Thanks again. ~James
Thank you for risking being thrown out of the museum, or worse. It is a very beautiful piece and a lovely sentiment.
I agree Marie, and as I said, this is one of my favorite pieces of ancient art. Couples’ art just didn’t happen much in the ancient world, and this is an outstanding example. ~James
It’s very romantic. I’d love to see it someday! And regarding photographing on the sly, I did that once in Ireland and a fellow museum goer totally yelled at me, made a huge scene and reported me to security. I was mortified and I’ve been a photography rule follower ever since. Heehee!
Leslie, I can say with 100% certainty that this museum whistleblower needs to get a life. Like you, I believe in rules. Cultures develop and thrive because rules are in place. But as long as it’s “No Harm, No Foul,” my approach is that it’s easier to obtain forgiveness than permission. This would make an interesting happy hour conversation. ~James
Haha! Totally agree! Steve and I really hope to cross paths with you and Terri someday somewhere…let’s chat about it then. 🙂
You guys are so adorable and your story is so romantic! I also like to write about the lessons I’ve learned on the road. Looking forward to reading more of your posts. Thanks for writing 🙂
Thanks for the comment and for dropping by the blog Brittaney. It enhances my trip when I take a step back to look at the broader travel experience. And these are the lessons. I pleased that you enjoyed the post. ~James
What a fabulous piece! 🙂
Art of this kind is unusual in the ancient world, and it was a pleasure to see. ~James
Perhaps on a future trip to France you will discover the beautiful Languedoc-Rousillion. There are more vineyards here than anywhere else in France. You can follow the route de Cathars and the magnificent castles. Heading toward the Pyrenees you can discover the amazing Ille-sur-tet and so much more. I am hooked on exploring this country and blogging the treasures I find. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the comment and for dropping by the blog. When we lived in London Terri and I both visited France quite a lot on business, and for long weekends as well. It’s a beautiful country that lends itself to “Off the beaten path” experiences. We would try to make sure that our business meetings were scheduled for Friday. 😉 ~James