| Author | Jerzy Piątkowski (Kielce) |
|---|---|
| Title | ALEXANDER’S FUNERAL CART – THE MASTERPIECE OF ORIENTAL-CLASSICAL ART |
| Keywords | Alexander the Great, Hieronymos of Cardia, Alexander’s hearse (funeral cart, carriage, funerary vehicle), camara |
| Pages | 11-30 |
| Full text | |
| Volume | 19 |
Shortly after Alexander’s death the possession of his body became a subject of disputes between his successors. King of Macedon, Arrhidaios, was commissioned to constr uct Alexander’s funerary vehicle. The camara soon became a legend, because of its impressive appearance and rich artistic decoration. We fnd its detailed description in Diodor of Sici-ly’s Library of History. The vehicle’s artistic design was experimental and successful blend of Macedonian, Greek and Oriental components. Alexander’s anthropomor phic, golden sarcophagus was located in an small Ionic chapel adorned with historical paintings.
The pictorial panels recalled the frieze with the Royal Tombs at Aigai. The body of Alexan-der soon became an important component in the power struggle for empire. The funeral cart honored the achievement of Alexander and it probably infuenced Ptolemaic propaganda.