HE Part of the lid of Jonah’s paleochristian sarcophagus now rests again in the Elda Archaeological Museum. It was moved from Córdoba, where it had been part of a team project. The exhibition is titled Change of Ages and focuses on early Christianity across the ancient world. The international display is promoted in collaboration with the Municipality of Córdoba, the Andalusian Junta, and the diocese of Cordoba, highlighting the city’s most significant pieces. The event drew more than 350,000 visitors who explored the Christian Mediterranean between the time of Constantine and Justinian.
The notable artifact is the cover of a large high-quality marble sarcophagus. Known as Lunense by the Romans and now identified as Carrara marble, it was the last piece recovered around Christmas in 1981 by members of the Eldense archaeological team while excavating the cistern at Elda Castle. The lid had previously served another purpose before it came to light again during the dig.
Archaeological artifacts from the Elda Museum were showcased at the Córdoba exhibition, with information provided alongside. [Citation: Elda Archaeological Museum records, Córdoba exhibition, 2023]
One of the oldest paleochristian objects in the Valencian Community and Spain, it earned permission from the Elda City Council last December to be displayed for four months as part of a broader effort to celebrate regional heritage. The piece remains a cornerstone of Valencian artwork catalogs and is regarded as a defining example of early Christian art in the area.
A piece appeared in the castle
The Elda Museum sarcophagus stands out for its artistic quality and antiquity and depicts the opening scenes of a well-known biblical story. The iconography has been interpreted as representing aspects of baptism and the Christian life that followed in the community through the ages.
The sarcophagus was described by archaeologists as a significant find that surfaced during the exploration of the Elda fortress area. It is believed to have been reused on the roof of a structure at the Christian cistern of the castle, a detail documented in early 1980s publications. Eldense researchers note that it likely belonged to a wealthy Roman resident of El Monastil or a nearby villa, underscoring its historical value.
Scholarly work by Antonio Manuel Poveda emphasizes the artifact’s artistic, historical, and economic significance, ranking it among the most valuable pieces of Christian archaeology in the Valencian Community.
The most important historical monument
Questions arise about why this artifact has sparked such widespread interest at major archaeology and art exhibitions. Córdoba hosted a remarkably successful display, reaching a vast audience and boosting the piece’s profile to national and international levels. The artifact has traveled to several other exhibitions and museums, including sites in Murcia, Valencia, Orihuela, and Alicante, with a cumulative audience approaching half a million visitors. This enduring visibility reflects the museum’s pride in presenting the sarcophagus and its dedication to continually improving its exhibition space. The scientific committee continues to study and exhibit the sample as part of ongoing research initiatives.
Antonio Poveda Navarro: “I’m going because my attempts to defend Elda’s legacy only brought me files”
A comprehensive catalog accompanies the exhibition, consolidating all the pieces and providing a foundational reference for paleochristian material culture. The coordinator and curator of the exhibition, Dr. Alexandra Chavarria Arnau, produced a complete work in which the Elda Archaeological Museum is prominently credited as the loaning institution and is portrayed with detailed captions and explanatory text.
In summary, this exhibition marks a milestone for the Elda Municipal Archaeological Museum, celebrated in 2023 as the 40th anniversary of the museum’s opening. The event underscores the enduring importance of the sarcophagus in the study of early Christian art and its ongoing influence on regional heritage preservation. [Citation: Exhibition catalog, 2023]