 Upper part of Payava's tomb in the British Museum | |
| Location | Originally Xanthos, Lykia; now British Museum, rm20 |
|---|---|
| Type | Barrel-vaulted sarcophagus |
| Material | Stone |
| Height | 3.5 metres (11 ft), originally 7.85 metres (25.8 ft)[1] |
| Completion date | 375-360 BC |
The Tomb of Payava is a Lycian tall rectangular free-standing barrel-vaulted stone sarcophagus built for Payava who was probably the ruler of Xanthos, Lycia (now Günük, Turkey) in around 360 BC. The tomb was discovered in 1838 and brought to England in 1844 by the explorer Sir Charles Fellows. He described it as a 'Gothic-formed Horse Tomb'.[2]
Payava, who is named in the enscriptions, is only known from this tomb. The tomb is a particularly fine example[3] of a common Lycian style, carved from stone but accurately depicting a wooden structure.[4] The carved friezes on the sarcophagus and its roof contain Greek and Persian features, showing the mix of influences in Xanthos at that time[5] and show:
- Two long-haired and bearded men clothed in cuirasses and cloaks, one of whom may be Payava.
- An athlete and companion dressed in a Greek style.
- A seated figure, in Persian dress receiving a delegation. Possibly the satrap Autophradates receiving Payava.[1]
- Two battles.
- A bear being hunted.
- Lions.
- Sphinxes.
- Four horses pulling a Greek chariot.
- A Persian couple.
Three of the four tiers of the tomb are currently housed in the British Museum where they dominate the centre of room 20, the lowest tier was left in Turkey and is in a poor state[6]. Displayed with the tomb are other Greek and Lycian objects from 400–325 BC.
References edit
- ^ a b Jenkins, Ian (2006). Greek architecture and its sculpture. Harvard University Press. pp. 179–181. ISBN 0674023889, 9780674023888.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ "The tomb of Payava, a Lykian aristocrat". British Museum. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ Jona Lendering (21 April 2010). "Lycian Tombs". LIVIUS, Articles on Ancient History. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ William Bell Dinsmoor (1973). The architecture of ancient Greece: an account of its historic development. Biblo & Tannen. pp. 67–68. ISBN 0819602833, 9780819602831.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ John Curtis (2005). John Curtis, Nigel Tallis (ed.). Forgotten empire: the world of ancient Persia. University of California Press. p. 46. ISBN 0520247310, 9780520247314.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Lycia :: Xanthos". exploreTurkey.com. IstanbulNet. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- British Museum information board in room 20
Further reading edit
- M. Caygill, The British Museum A-Z compani (London, The British Museum Press, 1999)
- E. Slatter, Xanthus: travels and discovery (London, Rubicon Press, 1994)
- A.H. Smith, A catalogue of sculpture in -1, vol. 2 (London, British Museum, 1900)
{{British-Museum-object|GR 1848.10-20.142 (Sculpture 950)|url=http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/t/the_tomb_of_payava,_a_lykian_a.aspx}}