Funerary stele from Thasos

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Greek artists of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. crafted works that exude the very essence of vibrant life alongside an unmistakable sense of enduring presence, radiant clarity, and sublime harmony. Polykleitos of Argos stood out for devising a set of proportions that unlocked this artistic ideal and empowered others to replicate it with precision. Regarding funerary art, relief sculptures, statues (32.11.1), and towering stelai adorned with capitals (11.185a-c,f,g) dominated many gravesites. Each funeral monument boasted an inscribed base featuring a poignant epitaph, often cast in verse that honored the deceased with elegance. A relief portrait of the departed sometimes captured glimpses of their life, augmented by a servant, treasured possessions, loyal dog, and more.