Limestone cippus of Olympianos

Unknown

early 3rd century CE · Limestone · Greek and Roman Art

Funerary monuments of this type were common on Cyprus from the Late Hellenistic through the Roman period. Each was engraved with a standard formula of farewell addressing directly the deceased in the vocative. Sometimes a comment is added, such as "no one is immortal." Here the inscription in Greek simply reads: "Good Olympianos, farewell." Above is a wreath decorated with pine cones and fruit that flank a plain circular disk on which a portrait of the deceased may have been painted.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 3rd century CE

Medium

Limestone

Culture

Roman, Cypriot

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76