Funerary stele depicting a lion

thingiverse

Funerary Stele Depicts a Lion in Mid-2nd Century Marble Relief Last quarter of the 2nd century Gunékeui (near Gédiz, in KizilDagh), Belgium's Musée du Cinquantenraire houses a stunning marble relief. The artwork was created using Autodesk's ReMake and ReCap Pro software. The central panel features a closed door with two intricately carved doors and a lock that resembles a leafy vine pattern. Below the cassettes, a sturdy vase (urceus) and a door ring add to the overall design. Plant motifs adorn the jamb, which is framed by a smooth border. A horizontal banner above contains an epitaph: "Marcos Sestullios Sévéros honors his foster father, Mr. Sestullios Pindaros." In a half-hexagon pediment, a hollowed-out niche holds a squatting lion, an animal associated with Cybele. This fearsome creature was meant to deter grave robbers. Since the Sestulii family owned lands in the Altintash Plain, it's likely that this funerary stele originated from this region. Follow me on Twitter for more updates: @GeoffreyMarchal