Etruscan tomb (number 9)

Etruscan tomb (number 9), Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Copenhagen, Denmark). Made with Memento Beta (now ReMake) from AutoDesk. A woman lies as though asleep. She holds a pomegranate, the symbol of new life. On the front, a stag is being devoured by a lion and a griffin with a snake´s tail, the fabulous monster that is to protect the dead person. A winged demon of death stands on either side, one with a mallet, the other holding a snake and supporting himself on an oar. This might be Charon, the ferryman responsible for the journey across the river to the underworld. The animals fighting at the centre symbolise hopes of overcoming death. On the short side a veiled woman is on her way - to the realm of the dead? Two male relatives accompany her on the final part of her journey. For more updates, please follow @GeoffreyMarchal on Twitter.