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A cylindrical terracotta sarcophagus bearing a relief of a Silenus mask has been discovered at the ancient site of Attouda, in western Turkey. It is the first time that such a sarcophagus, typical of Roman Anatolia, has been found with a figure of Silenus on its lid. The results have been published in the journal CEDRUS.
A fragmentary find in the necropolis
The sarcophagus was spotted during a surface survey conducted in 2023 at the locality of Musalla, just south of the ancient city, in the necropolis of Attouda. Damaged by later agricultural work, it had broken into six fragments, which had been displaced to the edge of the cultivated fields.
The fragments were transferred to the Denizli Museum, where they were restored and studied. Once complete, the object measured about 55 to 60 centimetres in diameter, with a domed lid roughly thirty centimetres wide.
A Silenus mask at the centre of the lid
At the centre of the lid is a small human face with a bald, bulbous skull, large eyes, a broad, flat nose, and thick lips deeply incised and curling upward into a smile. A short beard completes this grotesque relief.
These distinctive features recall the Silenus masks known in the region during the Roman period. An intact example from the necropolis of Tralleis bears three suspension holes, suggesting that it was hung inside a tomb. At Attouda itself, a large fragment of a very similar head was found in a burial.
Silenus, companion of Dionysus and protector of the dead
Silenus was the old satyr, tutor of the wine god Dionysus, renowned for his wisdom and his drunkenness. He often appears in Dionysian processions in Roman funerary art, where he evokes the beliefs of the mystery cult concerning the eternal renewal of life and life after death.
His exaggerated features also gave him a protective role. Archaeologists believe that the mask on the sarcophagus had an apotropaic function, meaning it was meant to ward off evil spirits and watch over the deceased.
A workshop mark and a difficult dating
On the lid, beside the relief, a Greek letter beta is incised into the clay. Seven centimetres high, it even exceeds the height of the Silenus face. Inscriptions of this type have already been recorded on other terracotta funerary containers from the region. The researchers probably see it as the mark of the workshop or craftsman who made the object.
As the sarcophagus was not found in its original context, its dating rests on stylistic comparisons. These point to the 1st or 2nd century CE.
A link between Dionysian cult and funerary rites
For the authors of the study, the presence of Silenus in the necropolis is no coincidence. The head fragment found in another tomb, associated with this new lid, shows that these protective figures were an integral part of funerary architecture and tomb decoration at Attouda.
This interpretation is also supported by the city's coinage and inscriptions, which attest to the presence of the Dionysian cult. The lid should therefore be read as a concrete testimony to the links between Dionysian beliefs and funerary rituals, rather than as an isolated decorative element.
Frequently asked questions
What is a terracotta sarcophagus from Roman Anatolia?
It is a cylindrical funerary container made from local red clay. Its weight and fragility made it difficult to transport, so it was probably produced in regional workshops. This type of burial was widespread in the city of Attouda and elsewhere in Anatolia.
Who was Silenus in Greek and Roman mythology?
Silenus was an old satyr, tutor and companion of the god Dionysus, renowned for his wisdom and his taste for wine. He often appears in scenes of Dionysian processions in Roman funerary art.
What was a Silenus mask used for on a tomb?
Its grotesque features, with bulging eyes, a large mouth and a flattened nose, gave it a protective role. Archaeologists believe it had an apotropaic function, intended to ward off evil spirits from the deceased.
Where is the ancient site of Attouda located?
Attouda is located in western Turkey, at the present-day village of Hisar, in Denizli province. Built on a hill bordered by cliffs, the city was easy to defend and had been occupied since the 7th or 6th century BCE.
Sources
- Terracotta sarcophagus with unique Silenus relief found in Turkey — The History Blog
Original summary written with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited, checked automatically, then translated from the French original. Information and quotations belong to their authors. Read the French original.
