AIUK46 no. 1 Grave stele of the family of Aristophosa

Grave stele of the family of Aristophosa

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 1 Date: Late v - early iv BC

Ἀριστοφώσης τῆς μητρὸς τῆς Ἀμφήνορος καὶ Διογνήτο ∶ καὶ (5)Θυμίλο ∶ καὶ τ Θυμίλο ∶ ὑ Ναύκλο ∶ καὶ Τιμοκράτος τ ∶ ὑ ∶ τ Ἀμφή- (10)νορος. Θρασυκλέος.

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Translated text

References:

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 1 (Translated text) (AIUK) (AIO)

IG II² 10799 (PHI)

GIBM I 135*

Translation by: Robert Pitt

AIO Images: 1

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Funerary

Findspot: Athens? (BM 1816,0610.266)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This monument was among the inscriptions acquired in Greece by Lord Elgin and transferred to the British Museum in 1816 (cf. AIUK 4.1, no. 2). Most, but not all, the inscriptions he collected are Athenian, and, though there is nothing that identifies it definitely as such, some features can be paralleled in Attica. It has sometimes been held to be a forgery, but there are good reasons for thinking it is a genuine monument of the late 5th or early 4th centuries BC, including that "Thrasykles" in line 11 is cut more shallowly than the rest of the inscription. It has clearly been added to the stone at a later date, a feature characteristic of genuine funerary monuments.

Unusually the monument is headed by a woman (perhaps a widow), Aristophosa, who is identified as the mother of three named sons, and who is commemorated with one of her sons, Thymilos son of Nauklos (apparently Aristophosa's deceased (?) husband), and the son of another, Timokrates son of Amphenor. The relationship of Thrasykles to the other persons listed is not clear. There is no indication of where the deceased are from. If the monument is Attic, this, together with other features, e.g. the names, some of which are not characteristic of Athenian citizens, suggest that the monument commemorates a family of non-Athenian origin, perhaps metics (resident foreigners or freedmen).

This is the first of a series of 16 Attic funerary stelai in the Museum's collection inscribed with names, but without figurative relief sculpture (Name stelai). For other examples see AIUK 4.6, no. 2 - 15.

For more detailed discussion of the inscription see AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments), no. 1.

Added: 6 Apr 2022
Updated: 6 Apr 2022
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ID: AIO_2161