Gravestone figuring a farewell scene

myminifactory

Elegant funeral monuments rose in the sixth century B.C. when aristocratic families of Attica commissioned grand tributes for their loved ones in private cemeteries along country roads on family estates or near Athens. Ornate relief sculptures, statues, and towering stelai topped with elaborate capitals and finials adorned many gravesites. Each monument featured an inscribed base bearing a poignant epitaph, often written in verse to honor the deceased. A relief carving sometimes captured a generalized likeness of the deceased, highlighting aspects of their life through the addition of servants, personal belongings, or loyal dogs. On early reliefs, it's easy to pinpoint the deceased; however, during the fourth century B.C., more family members were added to the scenes, and multiple names were inscribed, making it increasingly challenging to distinguish between mourners and the deceased.