Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Funeral Stele of Antaios Meilesios
(Roman Empire )
Greek tombstones frequently depict the deceased bidding a final farewell to their loved ones, as is the case here. The inscription above the head of the man on the left merely gives his name—Antaios Meilesios—and does not explain his connection to the other man. The small rabbit cradled in the arm of the man on the right, however, clearly indicates that the two had a romantic relationship. In Greek art, rabbits symbolized courtship and were given as “love gifts” or tokens of affection. While much more commonly appearing in vase painting, the giving of a rabbit as a love gift appears on over a dozen Greek tombstones. The emotionless faces of the men are in keeping with Classical traditions, while the postures of the two dogs indicate longing and sadness.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Elias Geladakis, Paris, [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Joseph Brummer, Paris and New York, 1923, by purchase [Brummer inv. no. P658]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1924, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 3/7/2018 | Examination | The stele is nearly complete but is soiled and has unsightly old repairs, probably from the 1920s. |
| 3/7/2018 | Examination | Examined for exhibition |
| 8/15/2018 | Treatment | Cleaned for exhibition |
| 8/15/2018 | Treatment | The stele was very soiled. The old repairs were discolored and uneven. The repair mortar was very hard and was not safely removed. The overall surface was cleaned and the old fills inpainted. |
Geographies
Greece, Roman Empire, Attica (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 40 9/16 x W: 15 3/4 in. (103 x 40 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1924
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
23.175