To My Family and Uğraş Uzun - Bilkent University

Above the lesbian cyma band is the band of egg mouldings. Each egg
moulding is accompanied with a single motif of lesbian cyma, having a ratio of
1:1 (Fig. 47). This ratio differs in earlier examples of “standard type” sarcophagi,
as in the Melfi Sarcophagus, where three eggs are accompanied by two motifs of
lesbian cyma, thus a ratio of 3:2 (Fig. 48) (Wiegartz, 1965: 28). Each egg
moulding is surrounded by thin strips around it. The rest of the area devoted to
the egg-moulding band is often, but not always, filled with three-branched leaf
patterns (Fig. 49). In some cases, the leaf patterns are replaced by three-armed
dart motifs with drill holes at the top of the central arms (Fig. 27, 47). On the
central aediculae of the front and left sides, the leaves are replaced by these darts,
while on the right side, there is a mixed pattern of leaves and darts.
Under the pediments, the architrave is filled with scallop shells. These are
usually interrupted by the neck of the standing or seated figure, except for the
right side, where there are no human figures in front of the central aedicula (Fig.
27, 28). Above the architrave, there is a band of dentils at the bottom boundary of
the pediment or the arch (Fig. 49). Within the triangle or the semi-circle of a
pediment, there are usually two egg mouldings on both sides of the head of the
figure, although these are not always present as the space did not always allow it.
The inner space of the pediment was filled with leaves and floral patterns (Fig.
49). Within the upper boundary of the pediment there is again a band of dentils
(Fig. 49). Above all these elements is a raking geison with a tendril work,
elaborately carved with the drill extensively used, and a band with straight
moulding (Fig. 49). On the central pediment of the front side (Fig. 47), above this
straight element, there is a band of raking sima with floral designs and borings.
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