Lot 13
Ancient Eastern Mediterranean, Greco-Phoenician, ca. 6th to 5th century BCE. An impressive marble fragment of a funerary stela capturing an endearing scene of a nude child and its female relative or nurse beside a noblewoman or goddess with the remains of an Ancient Greek inscription of a date at the bottom periphery. The veiled woman stands to the left and plays with the child, holding his hands as he sits with his back to a woman draped in lavish robes and wearing a diadem. The first line of text roughly translates to "fourth year" while the second line translates to "Gorpiaios" which was the Ancient Macedonian name for the month of August and indicates this example is from the Eastern Empire. In the Roman period this example would have been vibrantly painted and remains of crimson pigments can still be seen in the top periphery and on the feet of the veiled woman. Size: 11.4" W x 17" H (29 cm x 43.2 cm); 20" H (50.8 cm) on included custom stand.
The odd positioning of 2 figures interacting and one not, may indicate that either the veiled figure and child are both deceased or the crowned figure is deceased, and the figures may not interact as they are of different realms: that of the living and the dead.
Prior to the 2nd century, Romans cremated their dead; around that time, inspired by the Greek and Etruscan practice of using sarcophagi, they began to place their dead in sarcophagi. This trend spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire. In the western part of the Empire, sarcophagi were placed inside a mausoleum against a wall or in a niche, so the only decorated panels were on the front and the short sides. This stele probably came from the grave of a high-status Roman citizen.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#174710
- Condition: Fragment of a larger piece with chipping to peripheries and lower area. Expected nicks and abrasions as shown. Ample remaining detail.
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