Pisa-Campo-Santo-Write-up.
November 26th, 2007
(Date of research, November 24th, 2007)
The history of Campo-Santo:
Campo-Santo was founded in 1277 by the Arch Bishop Frederico Visconti, the purpose being to collect ancient Roman Sarcophagi. It was the last building built in the piazza di miracali, (Piazza with the leaning tower)
Some Roman Sarcophagi were re-used as tombs for the most “eminent” citizens of Pisa. The building is used to worship the dead. It focuses on the theme of life and death.
Frescoes by Buffalmacco in camposanto concentrate on the triumph of death.
The building eventually became a type of pantheon, celebrating classic and medieval history/religion, (of Pisa). It was also one of the first public museums in Europe.
In short, the Campo-Santo was a place devoted to the patriotic celebration of Pisa and meditation over the death.
Also: Collected funerary monuments of the Pisan professors and the Medici family.
Explanation of work:
I have documented 15 sarcophagi, chosen either by continuing themes or the subject matter. All of the sarcophagi are dated from the 2nd-4th century AD. 6 of the sarcophagi were documented as having Bacchus as the subject/or at least on, the frieze. Married couple with Bacchus on the side (3rd Sarcophagi) was reused in 4th c. AD by the Margatti family. (marriage/man and woman together was a key theme during this time period)
#1
Late 2nd C. AD, myth of Selene and Endimyon (look up and describe) With Genii and winged gryphons (look up symbolism) Reused in 1467 (AD) for Gherardo del Canfora
#2
Eary 3rd. C. AD, door to the underworld decorated by winged geni. (look up) represents the seasons, a sign of fertility.
Right-Male figure,Pegasus on male side.
Left-Female figure with griffons facing eachother.
#3
End of 3rd. C. AD, married couple. Bacchus and Mercurius on sides. (look up) Reused in the 14th C.AD for the Margatti family.
#4
Not dated, festival with judgement and celebration. Hades and a man on the side. The other side celebrates woman, this could be linked to the Dionysian cult, or at least demonstrate that the celebrating of woman in funerary scenes is present at this time. Also the idea of celebration of death being important is shown in this scene.
#5
First decade of the 3rd C. AD. Eros and Pysche in the center, theme of man and woman. Griffins on side, man on one side and 2 womanly figures on the other.
#6
4th C. A.D. Hunting scene with deer and wild boar. Hunting scenes were a common theme I found in these sarcophagi. There are always wild animals being hunted and the same type of theme carries over to other Sarcophagi, such as the triumph with Bacchus and Ariadne. Another idea is that it could just be a direct display of an aristocratic family.
#7
Late 3rd/Early 4th C. AD. plane bottom, top-theatrical masks, could have to do with Dionysus, there are many other sarcophagi with Dionysus and theatrical masks at the top corners.
#8
Not dated, Mars and Venus on the face of the Sarcophagus, another display of man and wife/lover as the main theme. 2 Diascuri at the extremeties.
#9
Mid. 2nd C. AD.
Front-Two winged victories holding inscribed disk between two centaurs.
Flanks-myth of Bacchus and Ariadne.
Sepulchre of Larius Sabinus
Tribune of the people who died around the mid 2nd C.AD.
The presence of Dionysus and the Victories makes this sarcophagus a strong symbol of fertility and the conquering of death.
#10
Not dated. Fluting center-Aedicile Dionysus with Maenad and Satyr. Winged gryphons on flanks. Dionysian scene on top. Also satyrical masks on the sides.
#11
2nd Half of 2nd C. AD. Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne. Image is a bit unclear and the sarcophagus looks less preserved than others. Still there is the common theme of Bacchus with Ariadne, combined with his indian triumph and other members of his cult surrounding him.
#12
3rd. C. A.D. victories present, bust of deceased woman held by flying victories. On the extreme there are winged genii. The winged victories are an imporant part of the funerary inconography, they represent the victory over death, a common theme in pagan religion, and in the Campo-Santo, can also be tied to the Dionysian symbolism in sarcophagi, for example, the Indian procession is a sybol of the conquering of death. I used this sarcophagus to demonstrate this common theme in pagan funerary art.
#13
Mid. 3rd Century, A.D. Bacchic Scene, unveiing Ariadne. There are Satyres and Meneids (typical iconography of a Dionysian Procession) On top of the frieze is a Dionysian scene and the name of the burried (Camurenus Mirenis) On the corners there are satyric masks. The sides contain woman, could be part of the Bacchic cult.
#14
Early 2nd Century A.D. Is from an epistyle. There is Dionysian Iconography in this sarcophagus. The figures on the side of the front frieze have grapes around them. Again there is a married couple in the center.
#15
Early 4th Century A.D. Scenes from Old Testament. Deceased couple, reused in the 14th Century (A.D.) for Bonagiunta Gamelli. This sarcophagus is infuenced by other pagan ones recorded, it has a married couple in the center and a procession on the front frieze. Although this is supposed to demonstrate the Old Testament it carriers many similarities to pagan themes.
Key themes/questions:
Sarcophagi are all between the 2-4th c AD.
People reused sarcophagi (the elite) Is this a recurring theme or not?
Many couples from pagan to contemporary people at the time are shown mostly in the 3rd C. AD. (Ex Bacchus and Ariadne, Eros and Pysche, Venus and Mar, a normal couple with the Old Testament in the background.)
Hunting scenes-involved exotic animals, such as lions and boars, and many people. (Resembled the Indian triumph)
Victories-involved in main scene with subject/the attribute given to the dead person-coud show conquering of death. –What did the victories mean in ancient antiquity?
The significance of griffins, Pegasus, diascuri, victories, genii, sepulcher, story of Selene and Endimyon,Aedicule Dionysus-many of these subjects such as griffins and genii are seen everywhere on the sides of the sarcophagi, other terms I am unsure of the significance.
Door to the underworld, sometimes with 4 seasons.
4 seasons alone.
Dramatic/satiric masks, associated with Dionysus? #15 sarcophagus of Dionysus had satirical masks on the side, I have no doubt that this is a direct association to the god, but there was another sarcophagus, #7, that had no frieze but had dramatic masks on the top of the lids, is this also a direct linking to Dionysus? Was his theatrical iconography used in burial tombs?/funerary art?
