To My Family and Uğraş Uzun - Bilkent University

One particular feature of the Antakya Sarcophagus is that, on the second
bay on the rear side, next to the head of Figure P, and over the architrave, there is
a Medusa (?) head in a garland (Fig. 53).
4.4.4 Acroteria
As a rule, on all four sides of the Antakya Sarcophagus, the acroteria of
the gabled pediments- the central pediments of the front and the rear sides, and
the pediments of the short sides- are foliate (Fig. 27, 31, 47, 50). On the other
hand, there are animal and eros motifs on the acroteria of the lunette pediments
on the long sides, and the corners of the chest on the short sides.
Again as a rule, on the corner-acroteria of the lunette pediments on the
long sides, there is a hoofed animal being attacked by another animal placed on
the short sides. For example, on the front side, on the corner-acroterion of the left
lunette pediment, there is an animal lying down with the rear left foot stretched
behind (Fig. 54). The foreleg of the animal is below its body and a hoof is visible.
This animal is being attacked by another placed at the corner of the left side (Fig.
55). Although the heads of both animals are broken (not obviously ancient
damage), it is possible to say that the attacking animal is a male lion, given that
the mane of the animal at the left corner of the right side is preserved (Fig. 56).
The corner-acroterion of the right lunette pediment on the front side is
again occupied by this usual composition, an animal with an outstretched leg and
a hoofed foot curved below (Fig. 57) is attacked by the corner figure of the right
short side (Fig. 56). The heads of the two animals joining at the corner are mostly
preserved, and the details allow one to determine the hoof, the upturned neck and
the left ear of the victim and the lion’s mane, its right paw on the victim’s body,
and its open mouth around the neck of the victim.
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