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Grave Stele

This Attic grave stele in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens (inventory no. 7901), is an archaic tomb monument for a young Greek, created around the middle of the 6th century BC and dated more precisely to around 550/540 BC. Carved from Parian marble, it preserves only the upper portion, measuring 1.16 meters high and up to 52 centimeters wide. The lower section and crowning element are missing, though parts of the hip and right arm have been reattached. The young man is shown in profile, naked and muscular, holding a spear in his raised left hand and standing in a calm archaic pose. Traces of red-brown paint remain on the background and hair. The original monument is thought to have reached about 4.5 meters in height.

Grave stele relief of a youthful male figure in profile holding a staff against a red background.
Grave stele relief showing a youthful male figure in profile, carved against a red background.
June 2008 © · CC BY 2.5
Grave stele with a carved male figure in profile facing right, holding a staff and showing traces of red pigment.
Grave stele featuring a carved male figure in profile, with remnants of red pigment and damage along the lower edge.
June 2008 © · CC BY 2.5
Parian Marble funerary stele of a young javelin-bearer carved in pale stone, shown in profile with curly hair and a staff.
Parian Marble funerary stele of a young javelin-bearer, carved in relief with a figure in profile.
July 2016 © · CC0
Grave stele with a relief of a youthful male figure in profile holding a staff.
Grave stele with a carved relief of a youthful male figure in profile.
March 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Grave stele relief of a young doryphoros in profile, holding a vertical staff against a red background.
Grave stele showing a young doryphoros in relief against a red background.
August 2007 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleGrave stele
SubjectA young Greek man
TypeAttic grave stele; grave marker

Historical context

DateMiddle of the 6th century BC; around 550–540 BC

Creator

Style periodArchaic period

Discovery and provenance

DiscoveryFound in 1973 during excavation of the Themistoclean Wall in Athens
Inventory numberNAMA 7901

Location and ownership

Current locationNational Archaeological Museum of Athens (NAMA), Athens

Physical characteristics

PhysiqueMuscular
Relief bordersBound on the right and left by two thin relief bands
HairShoulder-length hair gathered in curls and braids, with a chin-length braid between the eye and ear; held by a thin band, with hair falling forward over the front
Arm positionRight arm hangs at his side; left hand raised holding a spear
ShapeTapers upward
NudityNaked
PoseShown in profile, facing and turned to the right, in a calm, motionless Archaic pose
Maximum surviving widthUp to 52 cm
Surviving height1.16 m
Original heightAround 4.5 m

Materials

MaterialParian marble

Appearance

PolychromyLarge areas of reddish-brown paint survive on the background and hair

Iconography and meaning

AttributeA spear in the raised left hand identifies him as an athlete

History and restoration

ConditionOnly partly preserved; lower part missing from the hips downward; crowning element missing; minor chips and losses on the skin, hair, and other details; a small broken-off piece of the hip and right arm was reattached
Top treatmentA sitting sphinx is presumed to have crowned the stele