The Necropolis of Sidon

myminifactory

The distinctive characteristics of Phoenician funerary art from around 500 BC are evident in works crafted from diverse inspirations. The origins lie in Egypt: cartonnage masks covering mummy faces, dating back to the late third millennium, gradually lengthened to completely cover the body. This resulted in the creation of sarcophagi, a tradition that emerged during the 26th Egyptian dynasty (663-525 BC), with stone carvings. The appearance of the first Phoenician sarcophagi in early 500 BC is closely linked to the Persian army's conquest of Egypt and the plundering of Memphis and Saqqara necropolis in 525 BC. The model for these sarcophagi was likely brought to Phoenicia, probably adapted or influenced by Greek artists serving local princes. Our copy suggests that the marble used was imported from a Greek island, and its wavy locks evoke Greek art dating back over 500 years. However, it's also possible that this is a deliberate archaism on the part of the sculptor: the treatment of the face, the rounded shape of the tank, and the lid indicate a work created during the period around 470 BC. This piece thus represents evidence of the Persian period, during which Phoenician kingdoms played a crucial role as cultural melting pots where Egyptian and Greek influences converged.