Un sarcofago con mito di Pelope da Cuma al Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

This paper examines a figured sarcophagus from the late 3rd century CE, depicting the myth of Pelops and Oenomaus, in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Discovered in the area of ancient Cumae, the artifact is significant both for its funerary context of provenance and for its stylistic features, which exemplify late-imperial Campanian production. The sarcophagus portrays, in a detailed narrative sequence, the key moments of the mythological episode. In comparison with similar examples, it is evident that the workshops producing sarcophagi shifted from representations focused on the tragic fate of Oenomaus to the exaltation of Pelops’ virtues, reflecting the intention to celebrate the qualities of the deceased, who is identified with the victorious hero. The work stands out for its original iconographic adaptations and demonstrates the dynamic ability of Campanian workshops to reinterpret urban models in a local key.