Funerary stele with Lydian inscription and rounded palmette anthemion, stele of Alikres, son of Karos.Grayish "local" marble. Much reddish incrustation on face.

Piece of marble broken off at top. According to Buckler (Sardis VI, 2, 49) bottom is original (not broken) and inscription complete. This part may have sat on an additional shaft.H. 0.54; P.W. 0.55; Th. 0.135. H. of straight part of sides 0.30. Clamp hole: wide part of cutting is 0.035 in L., 0.015 W., 0.015 D.; the cutting toward it widens from 0.02 at clamp to 0.04 outside.

Found by first Sardis expedition in a field at Mersindere, 3 km. W of Sardis.

The wide stele is rounded at the top. At the top of the back is a clamp hole, somewhat swallow-tail in shape. The back was originally smooth. Together with the clamp hole this proves that the stele was set flush against a wall. The top portion is decorated in relief. A complicated volute system rises out of an acanthus chalice with a central bell-shaped flower. It is not completely symmetrical; there is a bird on the upper r. but a flower on the upper I. The volutes end in chalice-like flowers.

Below the relief there is a plain area with the Lydian inscription (translation is taken from the German of R. Gusmani):

This inscription and this stele (are) of Alikres, (the son) of Karos and of Anla (?) Atrastas (...)/ priest of Demeter, who ... I. his of (Ti)vdas .. . n(ow)/ (. . . . this in)scription or this stele/ or this letter(....) whoever damages(....)/(. . . .) Demeter (. . . .) the inscription and Artemis ..... (....).

It is interesting that a stele mentioning Demeter should have an exceptionally florid ornament.

The elaborate, acroterion-like acanthus volute tree points to the late 5th and early 4th C. B.C. H. Möbius dated it to the last years of the 5th C., G.W. Elderkin to the 4th, "late rather than early." The style of the anthemion as influenced by Erechtheion ornamentation yet showing Eastern Greek variants is discussed by Möbius. The soft, imprecise execution is probably Lydian.

In 2021 a second Lydian inscription was noticed on the side of the stele; see Oreshko, forthcoming.

Grayish "local" marble. Much reddish incrustation on face.

Piece of marble broken off at top. According to Buckler (Sardis VI, 2, 49) bottom is original (not broken) and inscription complete. This part may have sat on an additional shaft.