Cinerary Urn with Reclining Man on Lid
| Attributed To | Workshop of Chiusi |
|---|---|
| Culture | Etruscan |
| Title | Cinerary Urn with Reclining Man on Lid |
| Date | 250–150 BCE |
| Medium | Terracotta and added color |
| Dimensions | Base: 16 3/8 x 8 1/4 in. (41.6 x 21 cm) Overall: 21 x 18 x 9 7/8 in. (53.3 x 45.7 x 25.1 cm) |
| Credit Line | Museum purchase with funds from Mrs. Willis Hickam, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 64.123 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A rectangular-shaped box is decorated with a figural relief depicting a battle scene. The flat lid fits on top of the box and supports the three-dimensional figure of a reclining man dressed in a tunic.
This mold-made urn from the Chiusiregion of Etruria once held the cremated remains of an Etruscan man. A sculpted relief on the front of the box-like urn depicts the story of two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, who battled one another for the right to rule Thebes. The myth was borrowed from the Greeks, but a pair of winged females—a common Etruscan motif—was added to the scene. The lid of the urn supports a three-dimensional representation of the deceased, an unbearded man holding a phiale (offering bowl).
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
Request this image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request.
This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.
Cite this page
"Cinerary Urn with Reclining Man on Lid | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=64.123