Marble Stele of a Woman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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This marble stele, a grave marker of a woman, originates from the Greek Attic style of the mid-4th century BC. Discovered at Archanae, Menidi in Attica before 1827, it was donated by the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1948. The image of this noble woman evokes Aristotle's description of widely held beliefs about the deceased: "We believe those who have ended their lives are blessed and happy; we also think that speaking falsely or maliciously against them is sacrilegious because it targets those who have become our superiors." (Of the Soul, as quoted in Plutarch, A Letter to Apollonius 27). Oversized and seated on a throne-like chair, this figure takes on almost heroic dimensions. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory that creates a digital archive of fully printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.