The Antakya Sarcophagus : design elements and the chronology of the Docimeum columnar sarcophagi

Abstract

This thesis analyses the Antakya Sarcophagus within the context of other Docimeum columnar sarcophagi. The figured and architectural decoration of the Antakya Sarcophagus is described in detail, and a brief account of its contents is presented. The thesis also discusses the prototypes and the identification of the figure types and the affinity of these figure types to those on the comparable columnar sarcophagi. Finally, a production date for the Antakya Sarcophagus is proposed, and the controversies related to the accepted chronology of Docimeum columnar sarcophagi are demonstrated.