The Archaeological Exploration of Sardis

Dedicatory relief and inscription, overview of two fragments (left fragment: A, right fragment: B) (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
Dedicatory relief and inscription, overview of two fragments (left fragment: A, right fragment: B) (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
Dedicatory relief and inscription, fragment A, detail of inscription. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
Dedicatory relief and inscription, fragment B, detail of inscription. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Dedicatory Relief and Inscription

Report 2: Sculpture from Sardis: The Finds through 1975 (1978) Cat. 164

Date

3rd C. AD or later, Roman

Sardis or Museum Inv. No.

NoEx73.010ab

Material

Marble, Stone

Object Type

Sculpture

Sculpture Type

Votive Relief

Inscription Text

		[ἔτ(ους)] τ̣κ̣α̣´, μ[η(νὸς)? -  -  εὐ]ξάμενο[ς?]
		[	          εὐ]χὴν στήλ[ην]
		[	          α]ὐ̣τοῦ ἐπιζ[η]-
	4	[τ-	           ]ΥΑΡΧΕΟΝΟ[  ]
		[	          ]οι αὐτοῦ Ο[   ]
		[	          ] ἡ ἐγγόν[η?]
		-     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -

Inscription Translation

“[In the year] 321, [in the month (?) - - - ] after having made a vow [- - erected (the)] stele as ex-voto [- - -] of him demanding [- - -] his [- - -] granddaughter [- - -].”

Inscription Comment

text and translation of G. Petzl

Site

Sardis?

Findspot

Findspot unknown.

Description

Three registers preserved on both fragments, each separated by a horizontal band. Top register: A, Attis holding a pine tree (?), and a frontal lion (fragment of mane preserved); B, Cybele seated on a throne (lower portion of drapery and r. side of throne preserved) with frontal lion by her side. Middle register: A, male dedicant with r. hand raised, and r. hand of a second dedicant; B, a similar male dedicant. Bottom register: dedicatory inscription, partially preserved:

The figure style is flat and linear. Thus all folds on drapery are shown by parallel lines, either straight or curved. The inscription is neatly done, but relief could not be dated earlier than 3rd C. A.D.

Condition

Marble.

Two rectangular blocks (A and B) cut from one stele, but not joining.

Dimensions

A: H. 0.577; W. 0.187; D. 0.059. B: H. 0.63; W. 0.185; D. 0.059. Approx. 0.16 missing in W. between the two fragments.

Comments

Cf. Cat. 264 and Cat. 265 (Figs. 454, 455) for similar gestures and linear style of relief.

See Also

Related Artifacts