Roman sarcophagi and their sculpted reliefs have long been of interest to scholars, particularly in terms of mythological subject matter, sculptural style, and concepts of death and the afterlife. More recent developments in the study of Roman art history have drawn funerary art into a broader cultural discussion focusing on the social function of objects within their original contexts. Compared to the sarcophagi of Roman Italy, the sarcophagi of Asia Minor have received little scholarly attention. This study attempts to fill part of this lacuna by examining sarcophagus use in a single local context, the city of Aphrodisias in Caria. Aphrodisias preserves an impressive quantity of marble sarcophagi, which until now have been considered mainly in terms of style and iconography, with little attention given to their display context or social function.

Though few complete funerary monuments are preserved at Aphrodisias, the original display installations of sarcophagi can be partially re-created through a detailed study of archaeological remains in the necropoleis , sarcophagus findspots, descriptions of tomb structures in inscriptions, and comparanda from other sites in Asia Minor. The evidence suggests primarily above-ground display of sarcophagi, often as the uppermost element in a family tomb monument. The vertical arrangement of burials within the tomb suggests a concern with preserving the hierarchical structure of the Roman family.

The imagery and inscriptions decorating sarcophagi were also significant as expressions of identity and social aspiration. The juxtaposition of largely standardized iconography and portrait types with more specific details of names, genealogy, occupation and citizenship, demonstrates a common social ideal shared by people of widely-differing socio-economic classes. Distinctions in class are also visible in the patterns of sarcophagus distribution throughout the necropoleis. Analysis of the varying sarcophagus sizes, types of tomb structures, and names in funerary inscriptions suggests that certain necropoleis were dominated by the wealthy, established elite, and others by middle-class families newly arrived into Roman society.

The evidence drawn together from a wide variety of sources reveals the multi-faceted social function of sarcophagi at Aphrodisias, and contributes to a greater understanding of the diverse factors influencing funerary culture in Roman Asia Minor.