Sarcophagus of the spouses, at the Villa Giulia

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). (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium) The 6th century BC started on January 1, 600 BC and ended on December 31, 501 BC. // Monument 1, an Olmec colossal head at La Venta The 5th and 6th centuries BC were a time of empires, but more importantly, a time... Terra cotta is a hard semifired waterproof ceramic clay used in pottery and building construction. ... Map showing the extent of the Etruscan civilization and the twelve Etruscan League cities. ... Families Cebidae Aotidae Pitheciidae Atelidae Cercopithecidae Hylobatidae Hominidae The simians (infraorder Simiiformes) are the higher primates very common to most people: the monkeys and the apes, including humans. ... Stone sarcophagus of Pharaoh Merenptah Detail of a stone sarcophagus in the Istanbul Archeological Museum showing a hunting scene Anthropoid sarcophagus discovered at Cádiz A sarcophagus is a stone container for a coffin or body. ... View of the Etruscan necropolis of Banditaccia, in Cerveteri, Italy. ... A small town located approximately 60 miles N of Rome. ... Caere is the Latin name given by the Romans to one of the larger cities of Southern Etruria approximately 50-60 kilometres north (NNW) of Rome. ...

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.