Mother of Twins funerary stele at The Louvre, Paris

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This mysterious funerary stele or tablet remains incomplete and anonymous: vital details are missing from the mother's and one child's heads, while above their heads a coronation scene - possibly a pediment - would have added an inscription to the grave. The deceased figure on the left is undoubtedly a young woman who died in childbirth, cradling her wrapped infant in her arms. In front of her stands a small servant clad in a 'cécryphale' (a headband or bow) and a long-sleeved tunic, possibly holding another child whose feet are also covered and adorned with a tiny hat. Funerary figures from the IV Century often featured one or two children, but this artwork breaks the mold by depicting twins. A typical funerary stele would be placed near or around a grave site, serving as a tomb marker. The figures depicted might represent the deceased person or symbolize their personality.