me protrusion, because these objects represent merely the scenery, they do not stick out quite as much as the combatants do. Nevertheless, in all objects, there exists a faint trace of light and shadow that is consistent throughout. All of the elements of the work follow the laws of light and shadow. Even the more minor objects of the sculpture, such as the wine glasses, contain a shadow. While the bulk of the sarcophagus is sculpted in overall detail, nowhere is this detail more clear than in the facial expressions of the individuals and the animals. The sculptor seems to attempt to stress the feelings of these creatures. The two Greeks along with the five evil centaurs in the main section are distressed and rushed because they are engaged in the battle. Their hair is waving all over the place and their mouths shaped in a downward way to denote anger. However, in the left section, the two centaurs have indifferent faces, looking as if they are off on a Sunday stroll. Their eyes seem relaxed, and their mouths closed. In the right section, the centaur is once again stressed, ready to throw what looks like a giant boulder onto the helpless lioness. The lioness’ face, by absolute contrast, is innocent and nave, possibly not even knowing that it is about to lose its life. So, with this attention to facial detail, one could easily infer the creatures’ actions by first glancing at their faces.In short, the Sarcophagus, with its focus on detail, variation in color, and three dimensions, illustrates the ruthless violence and brutality of war between heroes and enemies. Human anatomy is also successfully explored, as the sculptor does not leave any muscle unexamined. The work may appear simple and uniform at first, but at closer inspection, the intentions of the sculptor are realized after discovering the complexity, attention, and variations of elements. ...
