Tomb of Payava

The tomb of Payava

Upper part of Payava's tomb in the British Museum
Location	Originally Xanthos, Lykia; now British Museum, Room 20
Type	Barrel-vaulted sarcophagus
Material	Stone
Height	3.5 metres (11 ft), originally 7.85 metres (25.8 ft)
Completion date	375-360 BC

The Tomb of Payava is a Lycian tall rectangular free-standing barrel-vaulted stone sarcophagus built for Payava who was probably the ruler of Xanthos, Lycia (now Günük, Turkey) in around 360 BC. The tomb was discovered in 1838 and brought to England in 1844 by the explorer Sir Charles Fellows. He described it as a 'Gothic-formed Horse Tomb'.

Payava, who is named in the inscriptions, is only known from this tomb. The tomb is a particularly fine example of a common Lycian style, carved from stone but accurately depicting a wooden structure. The carved friezes on the tomb and its roof contain Greek and Persian features, showing the mix of influences in Xanthos at that time and show:

• Two long-haired and bearded men clothed in cuirasses and cloaks, one of whom may be Payava (South side).
• An athlete and companion dressed in a Greek style (North side).
• A seated figure, in Persian dress receiving a delegation. Possibly the satrap Autophradates receiving Payava (West side).
• Battle of cavalry and foot soldiers (East side and Upper frieze).
• A bear being hunted (Upper frieze).
• Lions (Roof).
• Sphinxes (Pediments).
• Four horses pulling a Greek chariot (Roof).
• A Persian couple (Gable ends).

Carving from the south side of the second tier of the tomb showing two men in military dress, wearing a cuirass with pendant leather straps, a cloak and greaves. The Lydian inscription runs: “Payava, son of Ad[…], secretary of A[…]rah, by race a Lydian…”.

Three of the four tiers of the tomb are currently housed in the British Museum where they dominate the centre of room 20, the lowest tier was left in Turkey and is in a poor state. Displayed with the tomb are other Greek and Lycian objects from 400–325 BC.

Tomb of Payava at Xanthus in 1905

References

• British Museum information board in room 20

Further reading

• L. Allen, The Persian Empire: A History (London, British Museum Press, 2005)
• M. Caygill, The British Museum A-Z companion (London, The British Museum Press, 1999)
• E. Slatter, Xanthus: Travels of Discovery in Turkey (London, Rubicon Press, 1994)
• A.H. Smith, A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum Vol. 2 (London, British Museum, 1900)

This article is about an item held in the British Museum. The object reference is GR 1848.10-20.142 (Sculpture 950).