AIUK46 no. 44 Lekythos of Demostrate

Lekythos of Demostrate

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 44 Date: ca. 420-380 BC

Demostrate. Kallistrate.^[1] (relief)

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Greek text

References:

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 44 (Translated text) (AIUK) (AIO)

IG II² 11129 (PHI)

IG I³ 1286 (IG Online)

GIBM I 114

Conze II no. 905

Schmaltz, Marmorlekythen A2

Clairmont, CAT 4.120

Translation by: Robert Pitt

AIO Images: 1 2 3

Monument type: Marble lekythos

Inscription type: Funerary

Findspot: Athens (BM 1816,0610.275)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This marble lekythos in the British Museum was aquired by Lord Elgin (cf. AIUK 4.1, no. 2).

This is the first of several examples of marble lekythoi in the Museum's collection. These were stone versions of a type of ceramic vessel that would characteristically contain oil for anointing the dead and which, in marble form, were typically used commemoratively as part of a monumental ensemble in a family funerary enclosure (peribolos). For other examples in the BM see AIUK 4.6, no. 45, 47, 49 - 52, 54 - 56. See also AIUK 4.6, no. 38. For examples in other UK collections see AIUK 3 (Fitzwilliam) no. 4 and AIUK 7 (Chatsworth) no. 1.

The relief shows two standing women clasping hands in a dexiosis scene (cf. on no. 26) flanked by a mourning girl and a youth. The central women are identified by inscriptions above them, and the sharing of a name component (-strate) may suggest they are sisters or mother and daughter. Demostrate draws her himation forwards over her head, revealing her face (anakalypsis) and looks mournfully downwards without meeting the gaze of Kallistrate, and so she may be the deceased. Both the names Demostrate and Kallistrate are principally borne by citizens in Classical Athens. For more detailed discussion of the inscription see AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments), no. 44.

Added: 6 Apr 2022
Updated: 6 Apr 2022
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