2020.54
Greek Grave Stele, Ionia
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
left side
reverse, overall
right side