Phrasikleia

Phrasikleia

Greece, Ancient

Archaic (Greek)

This grave marker has both a Parian marble statue and a limestone base with an inscription on both the front and right side. The statue and base inscription were found separately; the former being found in excavation in modern day Merenda (ancient Myrrhinus) and the latter being found in a church in Merenda. The statue is of a young woman wearing a decorated peplos (πέπλος) and shoes, a floral headpiece, a necklace and bracelet. In her left hand, she holds a lotus bud while her right hand is hanging by the side of her body holding her peplos. She stands at 1.79 meters (5.87 feet) without the base (standing 2.115 meters – 6.93 feet – with the base). The statue was originally painted with the peplos being red. According to the inscription, the statue and grave were for Phrasikleia. The inscription was difficult to read because a majority of the letters on both inscriptions has been damaged. However, once removed from the church, the letters were able to be reconstructed. The inscription mentions that Phrasikleia was unmarried but unusually does not mention a father or brother’s name, leaving her name as the only identifier for the grave. The inscription on the right side of the base reveals Aristion of Paros as the sculptor of this grave marker.

FRONT OF BASE: σεμα Φρασικλείας· / κόρε κεκλέσομαι / αἰεί ἀντὶ γάμο / παρὰ θεον τοῦτο / λαχοσ᾿ ὄνομα (transcribed Greek) Tomb of Phrasikleia: / I am called Kore / Forever instead of marriage / By god I obtained / This name (translation) RIGHT SIDE OF BASE: Ἀριστίον Παρι[ός μ᾿ ἐπ]ο[ίε]σε (transcribed Greek) Aristion of Paros made me (translation)

Aristion of Paros

http://www.stiftung-archaeologie.de/koch-brinkmann,%20brinkmann,%20piening%20aus%20CIRCUMLITIO_Hirmer_Freigabe.pdf

550-530 BC

Amelia Verkerk, Christina Salowey (photo)

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Part of Greek in the Wild: Inscriptions Explained

Parian marble (statue)

sculpture (statue)

limestone (inscription)

inscriptions (inscription)

Ancient Greek

grave markers

phrasikleia_1

Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece (discovery location of both the statue and inscription)

Athens, Periféreia Protevoúsis, Greece (current location of both the statue and inscription)