Vatican Museums

The original beauty of this sarcophagus decorated with a continuous frieze (c. 310-320 approx) has been fully revealed following recent restoration: as we learn from the inscription, the tomb was dedicated by a woman to her husband Sabinus, who died shortly before reaching the age of forty-five. Since a female figure is depicted praying between two saints in the central part of the chest, it is to be concluded that the sarcophagus had not been prepared for Sabinus, for whom it was destined to be used later. The lid is decorated with a small portrait, largely restored, next to a scene depicting a wild boar hunt, whereas below, on the chest, there are representations of numerous episodes from the New Testament and apocryphal stories: to the left of the woman in prayer there is the miracle of the wedding at Cana, then the arrest of Peter and the Apostle in the act of baptising his gaolers; to the right of the woman, there is the healing of the blind man, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the resurrection of Lazarus.