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Fragment of a Funerary Naiskos (Monument in the Shape of a Temple)

A work made of marble.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of marble.

Date:

about 330 BCE

Artist:

Greek; Athens

About this artwork

Travelers in ancient Greece and Rome regularly encountered large stone monuments like this along the roadsides, marking the burial sites of elite families. They were made in a range of shapes and sizes and often preserve visual hints about who the deceased person was in life. In this example, three larger-than-life-sized figures are chiseled so deeply into the stone that they are carved nearly in the round. The two male individuals are shown clasping hands—a parting gesture common in funerary scenes. While there is no text to conclusively identify the figures, the standing man is likely the person who died, shown sharing a final farewell with his loved ones, perhaps his mother and father.

Status

On View, Gallery 151

Department

Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

Culture

Ancient Greek

Title

Fragment of a Funerary Naiskos (Monument in the Shape of a Temple)

Place

Athens (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

330 BCE

Medium

Marble

Dimensions

152.4 × 111.8 × 33 cm (60 × 44 × 13 in.)

Credit Line

Alexander White Collection

Reference Number

1928.162

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/55887/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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