Marble Sarcophagus with Winged Figures

This white marble sarcophagus (late 3rd c.) features a large winged figure—likely a genius or personification of the soul—carrying a portrait medallion of the deceased. At the left, smaller Erotes light the way with torches, while river gods below symbolize the passage to the afterlife. The composition links personal memory with Roman beliefs in protection, transition, and the soul’s ascent beyond death.