Funerary stele with verse epigram in honour of three young men
Ε128
Stone (Local marble)
Intact with minor chipping and lengthwise crack. Some original elements roughly chiselled off (pediment, inscriptions, tenon).
Height: 32-37.5 cm. Width: 98 cm. Thickness: 11.5-12.5 cm.
Itanos
Roman period:
1st c. BC:
Gallery:
XXIIExhibition thematic unit:
Classical - Hellenistic - Roman period (5th c. BC-4th c. AD). The CemeteriesDescription
Inscribed funerary plaque reused at a later date. It was originally set upright and tapered towards the top, with a pediment, a supporting tenon and an inscription of at least four lines. Repurposed, it was placed horizontally, while the original inscriptions and supplementary ornaments were erased and replaced by a lengthy elegiac epigram: 1 κείμεθ’ ὁμοῦ τρεῖς παῖδες ὁμαίμονες ἥρωες ἁγνοὶ Δάμων καὶ Φείδων καὶ Ἀμμώνιος ὄβριμα τέκνα. χαῖρε πατὴρ γλυκερὲ Ἀμμώνιε· πάντα γὰρ ἡμῖν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐπόεις δόξῃ ἀγαλλόμενος, 5 γλάθιας ἐκπλήκτους ἱλαρὰς καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσι τὰς θυσίας ἐπόεις ταῖς παρά σου δαπάναις, εἶτ’ ἀγέλας, μετέπειτα γάμους πάντας μετὰ δόξας θοινοδοτῶν, ἱλαρῶς τέρπεσιν εὐφροσύνης. νῦν δὲ ναὸν καὶ ἄλσος ἀφηρωϊσμένον ἁγνὸν 10 τὰς παρὰ τῆς πατρίδος λαμβάνομεν χάριτας· δόγμασι δημοσίοις γεγενήμε<θ>α ἥρ<ω>ες ἁγνοί. εὐψυχῖτε γονεῖς ἀγαθοί, παύσασθε μερίμνας, καὶ λύπης παῦσαι μῆτερ· λαμπρὰ μετὰ λαμπρῶν τὰς θυσίας ποίει κηρία καὶ λίβανον. 15 καὶ γὰρ τῷ Μίνωι καὶ τοῖς μετὰ Μίνοα πᾶσι ἥρωσιν φέρεται ταῦτα ἀπὸ τῆς πατρίδος. Translation: Τogether we lie, three young brothers, hallowed heroes, Damon, Pheidon and Ammonios, mighty sons. Hail, our sweet father Ammonios. You did everything for us from the very beginning, exulting in glory. You made dazzling offerings and rich sacrifices to all the gods at your expense. First in the years of the troop of adolescents, then at all our weddings you gladly prepared lavish banquets and joyous festivities. But now in a hallowed temple and heroes’ grove we enjoy the gratitude of our country, recognised by state decrees as hallowed heroes. Take heart, good parents, set aside care and you, mother, cease from sorrow. Glorious with the glorious, make the sacrifices with candles and incense. For even to Minos and all the heroes after Minos these things are offered by their homeland.Bibliography:
Inscriptiones Creticae III, iv, 38Author:
K. S.Photographs' metadata