AIUK46 no. 31 Grave stele of Melantes and Menalkes

Grave stele of Melantes and Menalkes

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 31 Date: ca. 350-320 BC

Melantes. (relief) Menalkes.^[1]

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Greek text

References:

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 31 (Translated text) (AIUK) (AIO)

GIBM IV 1153

Clairmont, CAT 2.417b

SEMA 2159

Translation by: Robert Pitt

AIO Images: 1 2 3

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Funerary

Findspot: Athens? (BM 1915,0415.1)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This elegant loutrophoros stele was purchased by the British Museum in 1915 (for the monument type, cf. AIUK 4.6, no. 21). Two doves perch on the rim of the vase, one of them drinking from it. While many birds are found in Greek funerary art, the dove is associated with Aphrodite, herself a goddess of mourning. The inscriptions were inscribed onto the shoulder of the vessel below the handles and were poorly executed, particularly in comparison with the relief sculpture. They were likely name labels for painted figures on the body of the vase, but perhaps not from its original use. Without the scene we cannot know which of the men was the deceased, but the loutrophoros indicates that he was unmarried. For more detailed discussion of the inscription see AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments), no. 31.

Added: 6 Apr 2022
Updated: 6 Apr 2022
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