|
Alexander the Great
The Alexander's Sarcophagus (Ýskender Lahti)
 Haghia Sophia, Topkapý Palace and the Blue Mosque are
the sights which first come to mind when visiting Istanbul. But there is so much else to
see that a few days or even weeks would not suffice for them all. Among them Istanbul
Archaeological Museum is one that should really not be missed. It contains an
extraordinary collection, including the first written peace treaty in the world, concluded
after the Battle of Kadesh fought between Ramses II of Egypt and the Hittite king
Muvatallish in the 13th century BC, the famous earthenware figurines of Myrina, gold coins
of King Croesus who minted the first coins in history, and cuneiform Assyrian tablets. But
among all these treasures, it is the Alexander Sarcophagus which leaves the most lasting
impression on those who see it.
This great marble sarcophagus with its exquisite carved friezes is called the Alexander
Sarcophagus not because it belonged to King Alexander the Great of Macedonia, whose tomb
has never been found, but because he is represented in the battle scenes along the sides.
Dating from the late 4th century BC, the sarcophagus is a remarkable work of art.
The sarcophagus was discovered in 1887 by Turkish archaeologist, historian and painter Osman Hamdi Bey (whose paintings can be seen in the Louvre and
other art museums around the world) while excavating the underground royal necropolis at
Sidon in Lebanon. This and the other sarcophagi found here were slid on rails down to the
sea, and from there carried by ship to Istanbul.
The carving on the sarcophagus is regarded as being among the most exquisite examples
of Hellenistic art ever discovered. Along each of the sides are vividly depicted battle
and hunting scenes in high relief and astonishingly realistic detail.
Alexander drove the Persians back out of Anatolia and the Middle East in the course of
his empire forging campaign which began in 334 BC, and so began the Hellenistic period of
Greek influence over western Asia. The influence was reciprocal, however, as towards the
end of his life Alexander married Persian princesses, wore Persian dress and adopted the
pomp and protocol of the Persian court. The way in which Greeks and Persians were
eventually united under Macedonian rule is symbolised by the hunting scene on the
sarcophagus in which Greeks and Persians are shown hunting together.
The lid of the rectangular sarcophagus is in the form of a pitched roof covered with
tiles resembling fish scales, and there are small carved friezes in the triangular
pediments at either end. Traces of paint show that the sarcophagus was once richly painted
in bright colours. Beneath the cornice, and along the base and edge of the lid are bands
of egg and dart moulding, and below these on the base a band of stylised vine leaves. On
either side of the lid are gargoyles in the form of lion-griffons.
Studies by the German scholar Volkmar von Graeve have revealed that the sarcophagus
belonged to King Abdalonymos of Sidon, and the evidence points to it having been sculpted
and painted by Ionian craftsmen living in Phoenicia and influenced by oriental art styles.
 The battle scene on one of the short sides represents the Battle of Gazza in
312 BC, in which King Abdalonymos was killed fighting the Macedonians. The other short
side depicts the king and his men hunting a panther.One of the battle scenes on the
pediments depicts Alexander’s successor Perdikkas being killed in camp during his
Egyptian campaign, and the other Persians and Greeks in battle.The battle scene on one of
the long sides depicts the Battle of Issus between Alexander the Great and the Persians in
333 BC. On the other long side Alexander and Abdalonymos are shown hunting a lion
together.
One has only to look at the delicate carving of the horses, lion, boar and other
animals in the friezes, and the way in which the taut muscles, distended veins and other
anatomical details are depicted, to appreciate the overwhelming and rare power of this
spectacular work of art. It is as if at any moment the frozen scene might burst into life
again, the panther spring and the warriors swing their axes.
 The traces of colour which remain are still bright after 2300 years,
allowing us to imagine exactly what the sarcophagus looked like before most of the
vegetable and mineral pigments wore away. Originally the weapons held by the soldiers and
hunters, such as spears, axes and swords were plated in gold or silver, but grave robbers
stripped all this metal ornamentation away apart from that belonging to one of the axes
which is now preserved in the Museum.The Alexander Sarcophagus and others discovered in
the subterranean sepulchre at Sidon are exhibited in a large gallery of their own, in
which the lighting effects recreate the atmosphere of the underground tomb chamber, so
that they look just as they must have done when Osman Hamdi first set eyes on them.
- Source:
- The Alexander Sarcophagus Ýskender
Lahti
Written by Turgay Tuna
Skylife 05/99
|
