Nuove sculture funerarie da Aquileia

In 2020, scheduled archaeological surveillance during public works in the centre of Aquileia made it possible to recover some elements of funerary monuments that had been reused in a later building. They include the marble lid of a sarcophagus and several limestone fragments, two of which have a figurative scene. The first depicts the stern of a ship, where the oars – guided by a male figure in profile – and the sail can also be recognized: we suggest an intrepretation as a craft scene (navigation or commerce), although the reconstruction of the monument (an ara or, more doubtfully, the pediment of a sarcophagus lid) is not definitely ascertained. The second fragment, attributable to a sarcophagus lid with corner acroteria, shows in the only surviving pediment a scene of labour, which could be connected to one of the steps of honey processing – a unique piece that helps to expand the already rich iconographic heritage of Aquileia.