Title
Stele with four figures in procession to left
Content
I.D. no: 21902
Dimensions: Max. H. 34 cm; Max.W. 27 cm; Max. Th. 5 cm.
Material: Rather course-grain white marble
Provenance: Unknown
Current location: National Museum of Archaeology, Reserve Collection
Condition:
Two major breakages one on each side. Both break surfaces have been smoothed down, but the right break is vertical while the left one tapers down to the right. The right break leaves visible only the front half of the fourth profile figure, whereas the left one affects only the lower part of the first figure and a larger fragment of the lower flat border frame. The left half of the inscription on the upper flat border is also missing. The back surface of the slab is covered with random deep pointed chisel marks.
Description:
A fragmented quadrangular slab showing a procession of four figures, all in profile and in movement to the left, carved in low relief against a plain background bounded by projecting frames at top and bottom. The first figure from left seems to be bearded and wearing a typical male cloak. He is taller than his companions and holds his left forearm at waist level and the right hand at shoulder level. So do the second and third figures who are similarly clad and their heads appear to be male as well. The garment worn by the fourth figure looks like a female one, with chiton and himation. The latter rests her right forearm over her chest while the three male figures raise their right hand in ritual gesture.
Only a few letters can be made out of the Greek inscription on the upper plain border, but neither names nor whole words have been identified.
Discussion:
This fragmentary slab too belongs to the numerous series of Greek votive stelae, mostly of original Attic inspiration, that represent a group of adorants in procession and approaching one or more divinities,[1] or a funerary banquet scene like the one in item number 21232 in this catalogue. For the pose of the adorants and the design of their draperies, the scene is very similar to that on the votive relief of Telephanes, Nikeratos and Demophilos.[2] Other close comparisons can be made with some reliefs of the same class in the National Museum of Athens.[3]
The scene is much more airy and the figures more spaced than those of the other two stele of the same type in the Valletta collection (I.D. nos 21166 and 21232). Even the sculptural quality is of a rather superior level in the rendering of the heads and drapery, even if resulting from a serial production workshop.
Bibliography: (previous publications of item): unpublished.
[1] See Hausmann 1960; Neumann 1979; Bohm 2004.
[2] Hausmann 1960: 60, fig. 30; Neumann 1979, pl. 30b.
[3] Svoronos 1908-1936: pls 25,2 (no 1345), 36,2, 77,2 (no 1461), 93,2 (no 2681).