AgoraXVII 519 Grave stele of the family of Adrastos of Kios

Grave stele of the family of Adrastos of Kios

Agora XVII 519 Date: 4th century BC

Adrastos son of Ariston of Kios.^[1] Theano daughter of Euaristos of Kios. Philothea daughter of Adrastos of Kios. Kallis daughter of Adrastos of Kios. (5)Hermogenes son of Adrastos of Kios. Poa daughter of Euaristos of Kios. Aristonike, Damon of Mylasa. ^[2] Plangon daughter of Lakleides of Aigina. Nanous son of Dios of Herakleia. (10)Boidas son of Dios of Herakleia.

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References:

Agora XVII 519 (Translated text) (PHI)

SEG 21.965

SEMA 1159

Translation by: Joey Wang

Images: Agora Excavations - (1)
Wikimedia Commons - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Funerary

Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 6153)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] In both physical form and epigraphic content this funerary inscription is unusual. Although the text recalls a Namenstele (name stele) listing the family’s dead, the stone is not of the expected tall, thin type, but a wide, entirely undecorated slab. Furthermore, it is difficult to explain the relationships between the perhaps three families commemorated. They are certainly all foreigners with ethnics, and the principal group centres around Adrastos from Kios-Prousias in Bithynia (modern Gemlik in northwestern Turkey), who had two daughters and a son, and if the order of names is meaningful then perhaps Theano was his wife, listed with a sister (Poa) below their children. No relationship can be ascertained with the following Aristonike and Damon from Mylasa in Caria or Plangon from Aigina, and the stele ends with two brothers from Herakleia (likely Pontica). The unusual nature of the monument must be related to their foreign status, and perhaps reflected practices in their home cities (cf. the grave stele of Aristophosa: AIUK 4.6 (BM, funerary), no. 1). The inscription was found in the southwest Agora, reused as a paving slab. [2] Textual note: The inscribed text "Aristonike, Damon of Mylasa" (Ἀριστονίκη Δάμων Μυλασεῖς) might be an error for "Aristonike daughter of Damon of Mylasa" (Ἀριστονίκη Δάμωνος Μυλασίς), but this requires the stonecutter to have misspelt both the patronymic and the demotic.

Added: 24 Sep 2026
Updated: 24 Sep 2026
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ID: AIO_3913