AIUK46 no. 21 Grave stele of Archiades and Polemonikos

Grave stele of Archiades and Polemonikos

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 21 Date: early iv BC

Archiades of Hagnous. (relief)

Polemonikos of Athmonon.^[1] (relief)

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Greek text

References:

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 21 (Translated text) (AIUK) (AIO)

IG II² 5261 (PHI)

Conze II no. 1005

GIBM IV 1152

Schmaltz, Marmorlekythen A193

Kokula, Marmorlutrophoren L9

Clairmont, CAT 2.284b

Translation by: Robert Pitt

AIO Images: 1 2

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Funerary

Findspot: Athens (BM 1886,1008.1)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This loutrophoros stele was aquired by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford (1766-1827), whose collection was broken up on his death; this monument was given to the British Museum in 1886 by George Plucknett. The relief loutrophoros contains a sculpted scene of two warriors with shields and Attic helmets shaking hands (dexiosis, cf. on no. 26) and is supported by a double-bodied sphinx, a common guardian depicted on Attic funerary monuments. The upper line of names was engraved by a different hand from the lower line of demotics, added as an afterthought perhaps in order to identify the figures more clearly within the family grave plot. The inclusion of demotics guaranteed citizen status, which might be significant for inheritance purposes. Their different demotics (and tribes) mean that the men are not closely related (brothers, father and son), but they could be from a wider family group (cousins). The deme Hagnous lies southwest of Markopoulo in the Mesogeion, while Athmonon is at Amarousion (known as Maroussi) in the northeastern suburbs of Athens.

Loutrophoros stelai usually indicate that the deceased was unmarried (cf. on no. 46, and see also the discussion in AIUK 3 (Fitzwilliam), no. 5, AIUK 6 (Leeds), no. 1). A large number of loutrophoros representations on tombstones include military scenes, perhaps giving the message that the dead warrior, while fulfilling his duty to the state, had not been able to reach his potential in the private sphere as a husband and father. For more detailed discussion of the inscription see AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments), no. 21.

Added: 6 Apr 2022
Updated: 6 Apr 2022
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ID: AIO_2183