"There is no evidence for any covering of the inscription; no remnants of stucco nor mortar revetment backing nor revetment pin holes were observed anywhere on the piers. On the evidence, the inscription was visible when reused" (A.R. Seager, by letter, July 7, 1975).Marble. Whitmore: compares with Sardis MD quarry group A.

Rough-trimmed for secondary use and damaged on I. side, top, and back. R. side and r. side of face also damaged.P.H. 0.885; W. at top 0.28, at bottom 0.375; D. 1.12.Found toppled from NW corner of pier S4, in Syn MH; see Fig. 5. It was part of the pier.The rectangular marble block has drafted edges on the r. and I. sides of the face (P. on I. 0.01; P. at lowest part on r. 0.04). The block flares outward to form a simple profile of footing (vertical, then convex half torus). An inscription of 12 (or 13) lines is on the face. The finish on the r. side shows that the block is from the r. end of the original monument; a similar block may have been at the I. end.

Gusmani (Sardis M3, 118) proposes that the monument was not a statue base but an altar (for possible statuary arrangement, see supra Ch. III). The fine workmanship is not likely to be earlier than the late 6th C. B.C. Gusmani says that "the writing recalls the finest examples of Lydian marble inscriptions of the 'classical' period," though the lack of vertical alignment of the letters may favor the earlier part (5th C. B.C.). He states that nothing can be surmised about the possible content.