GIUNIO BASSO, sarcophagus of. — In 1597, during excavations for the construction of the new Vatican Confession, carried out by Giacomo della Porta at the order of Clement VIII (1592–1605), a two-tiered Christian marble sarcophagus of Pentelic marble came to light. On its upper ledge bore the following inscription: *Giunio Basso, of senatorial rank, who lived 42 years and 2 months, went to the Lord just as a neophyte, while he was prefect of the city, on 24 August in the year in which Eusebius and Hypatius were consuls, that is, in 359.*
The sarcophagus is the finest surviving product of Roman funerary art of the 4th century. The lid is mutilated, but three fragments of the central cartouche were found during explorations in 1942 in the right wall of the straight arm of the Confession. Thus, a portion of the poem inscribed there in distichs was recovered.
The sarcophagus is divided into two tiers, and the scenes are framed by columns; the two central columns of each tier feature vine decoration. The scenes on the upper tier, from left to right, depict the sacrifice of Abraham, the capture of St. Peter, Christ between two Apostles, and Christ before Pilate; on the lower tier, from left to right: Job, Adam and Eve, the Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, Daniel among the lions, and St. Paul led to martyrdom.
In the interstices above the capitals are symbolic scenes: lambs, reflecting the Three Youths in the Furnace, the Miracle of the Fountain, the Multiplication of the Loaves, the Baptism of Christ, the Delivery of the Law to Moses, and the Raising of Lazarus. On the two sides are scenes of the seasons and of the grape harvest.
In 1932, J. Roosval proposed to identify the sarcophagus as a 3rd-century product reused in 359; this was justly contradicted by F. Gerke. Today, the inscription on the lid shows that it too is contemporary with the rest. — See pl. LV.