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Limestone tomb slab

Museo Archeologico Regionale ‘Paolo Orsi’about 200 BC

British Museum

British Museum
London, United Kingdom

The designs on this tomb door may depict the sexual act, which is thought to represent the deceased’s return to the earth’s womb. The spirals may symbolise eyes, breasts
 or ovaries. Perhaps, as spirals are never-ending, they stand for the eternal soul. Concealed by a plain slab, this spellbinding design would only have been seen when 
a new burial, perhaps of another family member, was made in the tomb.

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  • Title: Limestone tomb slab
  • Creator: Museo Archeologico Regionale ‘Paolo Orsi’
  • Date Created: about 200 BC
  • Location Created: Castelluccio, Sicily
  • Physical Dimensions: H. 1.02 m
  • Medium: limestone

  • Copyright: Museo Archeologico Regionale ‘Paolo Orsi’ © Regione Siciliana
British Museum

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