Sarcophagus of Dellys
A white marble sarcophagus which was submitted to the National Museum of Algiers was discovered in Dellys, a seaport 107 km to the east of Algiers, on 12-31-1857 by the French General Governor of Algeria, Marshal Randon. The lid and the front side of the sealed sarcophagus were decorated with figural compositions. The lid shows three dolphins swimming on moving waves and the front-side shows figures who appear in a gallery of seven separate spaces (so-called intercolumniation) subdivided by spiral fluted columns. The museum’s catalogue calls this sarcophagus of the 4th century the Miracles-of-Christ-sarcophagus, but this title is not accurate. On closer inspection, one realises that there are problems with it. An image of Christ teaching occupies the central space, with the deceased standing in adoration near his feet. In the background, palms refer to paradise, and the bust of the sky-god well-known from Roman art serves him as a footstool. This representation forms the centre in terms of both composition and content. The Loaves and the Fishes, the healing of a blind man, the announcement of the Denial of Peter follow on one side, Daniel with the dragon, the Wedding of Cana and the healing of the woman suffering from a haemorrhage on the other side. Apart from the representations of Daniel with the dragon and the announcement of the Denial of Peter - both on the outside - the representations show miracles related in the New Testament. But these two stories have a significance beyond this context. Since there is no knowledge of any further castings, the catalogue is the sole source of details on this piece.