Greek stele for the son of Philonides, Egypt, Naucratis, 2nd-mid 1st century BC
Limestone
Height: 52.3cm; width: 29cm
11678 EL
Copyright The Artist
Further images
The scene is carved in high relief, set within a sunken field, framed by two pilasters and a pediment. On the ground beneath them are eight elegiac lines in Greek...
The scene is carved in high relief, set within a sunken field, framed by two pilasters and a pediment. On the ground beneath them are eight elegiac lines in Greek inscription, once filled with red paint that now only remains in a few small sections. On the left side a heavily draped woman looks towards the man who is slightly taller than she is. A himation is wrapped around her waist and draped over her head, which she holds from her face with a raised left hand, her right hand reaching forward to clasp that of her son. She is clad in a short-sleeved, floor-length chiton which bunches on the ground line and reveals her pointed-toe slippers. Her wavy hair is centrally parted and flows to the sides as though tied in a bun at the back of her head. The man is clean-shaven and has short hair in small, tight curls. He wears a short-sleeved, ankle-length chiton, a himation wrapped around his waist and over his left shoulder, his left hand placed on the falling folds as waist height. He appears to be bare footed, though perhaps sandal thongs were once painted in.
Below the scene is a metrical epitaph, translated as:
I who in wars my lust of fight did show
And thrust dreadful spears against the foe
Lie in the meadows of the blessed deep
Leaving my much-yearn'd father bitter tears to weep
And eke my brothers. Son to Philonides
I bear his name. Within this same tomb's sides
My mother welcomes me. So, passer-by,
Be of good cheer and may you happy die.
Damage to the surface in particular to the top of the pediment, the bottom edge broken away, some remains of cement to the lower section.
Below the scene is a metrical epitaph, translated as:
I who in wars my lust of fight did show
And thrust dreadful spears against the foe
Lie in the meadows of the blessed deep
Leaving my much-yearn'd father bitter tears to weep
And eke my brothers. Son to Philonides
I bear his name. Within this same tomb's sides
My mother welcomes me. So, passer-by,
Be of good cheer and may you happy die.
Damage to the surface in particular to the top of the pediment, the bottom edge broken away, some remains of cement to the lower section.
Provenance
Gustave Mustaki, Alexandria, Egypt; exported from Egypt to the UK under licence c.1950, listed in the shipping scheduleElsa McLellan, UK; by descent from the above
Private collection, London, UK; by descent from the above
