Sarcophagus slab with eagle and crosses

myminifactory

The intricately carved stone sarcophagus stood proudly as the centerpiece of the niche tomb, a tradition that spanned centuries across Early Christian and pagan burial customs in the Mediterranean world. This long-standing practice continued unabated in medieval Byzantium, where the body was often laid to rest beneath the church's floor, yet the decorated sarcophagus remained a potent symbol of the deceased's presence nearby, linking it seamlessly with the earliest Christian burials. Sarcophagi were adorned with an astonishing array of motifs in relief carving, showcasing delicate floral and vegetal forms, complex geometric patterns, sacred narratives, and inscriptions that proudly proclaimed the name of the deceased.