Grave stele, marble, Roman era

From the Phrygian region. Dated to the 1st – 2nd century AD.
Dimensions: 66 x 43 cm, 8 cm thick.

The main scene represents two men and a woman during a funeral ‘Symposium’ (drinking party). The men, who lie down on the ‘Kline’ (coach), hold drinking bowls in their left hand; one of the men holds a wreath in the right hand. The seated woman (of the so-called ‘Protopudicitia’-type) shows signs of restrained grief.
The small ccharacters in the corners below are servants: a girl (left) and a boy (right).
Beneath the main scene two oxen are depicted: an often used motif on Roman grave steles from the Phrygian area. To their right, there is an inscription in Greek.

Regarding Greek inscriptions during the Roman period in Anatolia:
When Rome conquered Asia Minor, the subcontinent was largely hellenised and Greek was the predominant language. Roman rule did not change this, and the numerous inscriptions in Greek, dating from the Roman period, confirm it. Some official inscriptions were written in Latin; private inscriptions in Latin are in minority.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: Website of ‘anadolumedeniyetlerimuzesi.gov.tr’ – Annual report 2002 & Wikipedia .