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Preview image of work. marble,  Greek Grave Stele, Ionia 39120
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2020.54

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Greek Grave Stele, Ionia

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Artist

Artist Unidentified (Greek)

Title

Greek Grave Stele, Ionia

Creation Date

n.d.

Century

2nd century BCE

Dimensions

25 3/16 x 13 9/16 x 4 5/16 in. (64 x 34.4 x 11 cm)

Object Type

relief

Creation Place

Europe, Greece

Medium and Support

marble

Credit Line

Museum Purchase, Lloyd O. and Marjorie Strong Coulter Fund and the Adela Wood Smith Trust

Copyright

Public Domain

Accession Number

2020.54

Greek funerary sculptures like this stele, which served as a grave marker in antiquity, stand as poignant memorials to individual Greek lives and powerful witness to the achievements of the Greeks in the sculptural arts. Carved with an intimate relief panel of two youths shaking hands, the two individuals depicted here were most likely brothers. Each wears a chiton and himation, has short-cropped curly hair and is barefoot. Of the “pedimental naiskos” form, the stele is also representative of important Greek architectural forms. Originally, elements of the relief and the pediment were likely painted, and an inscription identifying the deceased may have been painted below the relief. Dating to the Hellenistic period, during which the funerary arts became wider spread socially, economically and geographically, this stele was carved in Ionia (western Turkey) at the intersection of Greek and Persian cultures, but at the center of the Hellenistic one.

Object Description

Per Charles Ede email 1.24.2020:
Description
An intimate scene of two youths shaking hands, carved in relief within an inset rectangular panel. Each wears a chiton and himation, has short-cropped curly hair and is barefoot. Base with a cavetto, the sides of the stele subtly taper upwards, the stele surmounted by a pediment with simple palmette acroterion. A few chips to the base, a scratch on the pediment toned down, proper left corner of the pediment chipped, general surface wear and incrustation.

Additional Media

Additional Image left side
left side
Additional Image reverse, overall
reverse, overall
Additional Image right side
right side