Marble stele (grave marker) of a woman

Unknown

mid-4th century BCE · Marble · Greek and Roman Art

This noble image of a woman brings to mind the philosopher Aristotle's description of commonly held beliefs about the dead: "In addition to believing that those who have ended this life are blessed and happy, we also think that to say anything false or slanderous against them is impious, from our feeling that it is directed against those who have already become our betters and superiors" (Of the Soul, quoted in Plutarch, A Letter to Apollonius 27). Larger than life and seated on a thronelike chair, this figure assumes almost heroic proportions.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-4th century BCE

Medium

Marble

Culture

Greek, Attic

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1948