Funerary pedimental stele

myminifactory

This is a funerary stela with an impressive triangular pediment and an emotional epigram written in three elegiac couplets, using the Ionic dialect, and inscribed across eleven rows. It showcases a truly exceptional example of a funerary epigram where the emotion and original language take center stage. The stela pays tribute to eight-year-old Aphrodisia, who was deeply beloved for her charming personality and whose untimely death left her parents consumed by overwhelming sorrow. The epigram concludes with a heartfelt greeting extended to any potential passer-by. Notably, the Cypriot epigrams stand out for their remarkable intellectual richness, clearly demonstrating the island's strong connections with the broader Greek world. "In this sacred ground, I was destined to find eight-year-old Aphrodisia, who was deeply cherished for her captivating charm, leaving her parents in unbearable anguish that Hades surely doesn't consider. But you who are present here, say "Farewell Charming Aphrodisia" and continue on your journey with happiness."