A Roman Senator's Tomb (in Baltimore)

Baltimore's Walters Art Museum contains a series of sarcophagi from the so-called Licinian Tomb, the mausoleum of an aristocratic Roman family.
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[@VanillaCat1977]

The Walters Art Museum is a wonderful museum. Well worth a visit.

[@princecharon]

The amount of delicate stonework involved here is amazing.

[@lesliea7394]

Grew up in Baltimore. I am certain I saw these many times with no appreciation for them at the time. Need to go back home and see them again. Simply beautiful.

[@larsrons7937]

Beautiful sarcophagi, impressive. Thanks for showing us, and for the interesting information.

[@stepps511]

I've been fortunate to see these more than once as the Walters is right here in my hometown. It is a treasure trove of ancient artifacts, and admission is free to all!

[@paulkoza8652]

Now I have to make a visit. Thanks for enlightening me. The sculptures are amazing.

[@TXMEDRGR]

What a journey those tombs took to have ended up in Baltimore.

[@AQ-jh7tk]

Videos like these, up-close to this art and explaining them is amazing.

[@d.l.l.6578]

I’ve been to the Walters many times. Glad you were able to make it there. I enjoy your coherent, well spoken presentations.

[@BoomVang]

I wonder who are the open mouthed heads (with jester hats?) on top of vases on upper lid

[@svenhaheim]

Just stunning what our western ancients left the world.

[@alexander63736]

Romand are not the ancestors of Americans lol.

[@ogrejd]

Can you imagine just how unbearably gaudy these must've been with their original paint? :)

[@nautifella]

What happened to the remains that were inside when discovered?

[@416dl]

Amazing details and superb quality of work; the insights into the Dionysian mysteries resonate even today. Cheers.

[@DrPepperone]

Oh amazing! These look similar to the Portonaccio Sarcophagus kept in Palazzo Massimo in Rome. I guess they're of similar provenance.

[@owenroche8426]

Beautiful details, thanks for sharing!!

[@jamesclayton3388]

Thesius head being missing but the rest being perfect, makes one wonder if someone knew the fable and removed his head?..

[@fredyair1]

Interesting, how those sorcofagi ended up in a Baltimore Museum? And my other question, what are the faces on the corners of the lids? Thank you Garret.

[@gchecosse]

The museum website shows the provenance. Sold at auction in the 1890s.

[@Benjaminwolf]

Where are the other sarcophagi? These are incredible!

[@oiausdlkasuldhflaksjdhoiausydo]

This should be in Italy. What a marvel.

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

That stonework was done before the Renaissance, Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution,

[@525Lines]

The damage to that one looks awfully specific. Do you think heads were cut off to sell separately?

[@kerryrwalton7791]

Thank you once again for this informative video! Were these sarcophagi originally painted?

[@anartistnamedmatthew1849]

Do we know who exactly were buried in these sarcophagi and if any remains were found upon their unearthing?

[@DavidAmster]

Optime! Maximas gratias tibi ago!

[@HellenicJohn]

Where they originally painted or plain?

[@vincentkosik403]

Too bad be can't come back to see it for himself

[@simplepixel5617]

As a historian, what is your position when it comes to historical artifacts in the possession of another country, displayed in their museum? Do you think that they should be given back to the original country, as in this case, Italy?

[@rewanji]

I wonder how and why the Italian state allowed these masterpieces to leave the country. These would make much more sense in local or national museum.

[@reference2592]

How about no. Roman Civilization belongs to all of the Western World, not just Italy. And clearly, America was willing to write checks when Italians weren't. Womp womp. Next 👋

[@gchecosse]

It appears to have been sold in the 1890s. Presumably that wasn't a consideration then. Perhaps Roman artifacts were simply regarded as so abundant that it was no big deal.

[@matbroomfield]

That last sentence made this subject especially sad. I have mixed feelings about national artefacts ending up in foreign countries. On one hand, it increases their accessibility, but on the other, it feels very imperialistic and thefty.

[@BoomVang]

With everything stuck in original location, you risk total loss due to earthquake, acid rain, etc. Italy has so much similar that you can spend weeks with glazed eyes. Try going there during free museum week, visiting 4 each day and see if they seem deprived by stuff they exported.

[@matbroomfield]

@@BoomVang My brother once stole £25k from me. When I challenged him on it, he said "You'd only have wasted it." That's exactly how you sound.

[@gchecosse]

This artefact, like almost all Roman, Egyptian, Greek etc items in museums, was legitimately purchased. I actually agree that in an ideal world significant artifacts would be displayed where they were found, but emotive and false terms like "theft" only distract from the issue. There is often a slightly condescending denial of agency to the Italians, Egyptians, etc, who sold these things.