Sarcophagus 1500 - 1600

This drawing of a sarcophagus, whose artist and date remain unknown, presents us with a vision of ancient burial traditions. Sarcophagi, or stone coffins, were more than mere containers for the dead. They were canvases that reflected the beliefs, status, and personal narratives of the deceased. Consider the cherubic figures adorning this design; they are evocative of Renaissance ideals of innocence and beauty. The figures of what look like nereids riding sea creatures remind us of classical myths, which served not only as decoration but as a means of connecting the deceased to a larger cultural narrative, a world of gods, heroes, and epic tales. These symbols speak to the identity the deceased and their families wished to project for eternity. This drawing invites us to ponder the stories we tell about ourselves, and the ways in which we seek to shape our legacies.