Funerary stele of Ostiala Gallenia

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A funerary stele discovered during construction work on the via S. Massimo in Padova in 1962 showcases a dramatic chariot racing scene to the left, driven by two energetic horses. Three figures stand on the carriage: a man, a woman, and a skilled charioteer. The charioteer is easily recognizable due to his traditional Roman tunic and authoritative gesture of lashing the horses, characteristic of Roman stelae. To the right stands a dignified man wearing a toga, while both men's faces are also typical in Roman funerary stelae depictions. Notably, the woman is dressed in paleovenetian fashion with a symbolic disc on her head and a shawl draped over her body, attached by a chest strap. This unique attire could suggest that she is depicted as deceased. The togaed man, presumably her husband, gazes at her with an expression of extreme greeting. Under the horses' hooves lies a round shield, possibly serving as a substitute for the flower often featured in ancient paleovenetian stelae. This scene is reminiscent of common depictions detailing the journey to the underworld. The inscription on the top right corner of the stele is written in Venetic language using Latin characters: the woman's name, Ostiala, follows a local tradition and takes the position of a Latin noble first name, Gallenia. M'. GALLENI. M'F. OSTIALAE. GALLEN/IAEEQVPETARS