Limestone pediment from a funerary stele (shaft)

3rd–2nd century BCE
Not on view
In the center two women stand tearing their hair in mourning. They are flanked by lions and diminutive figures that may represent a Master of the Animals, known in Near Eastern art, or else the Egyptian god Bes. An inscription on the lower edge reads: "I am Aristokretes, my brothers set [this] down in memory of good deeds that I once did well."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Limestone pediment from a funerary stele (shaft)
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: 3rd–2nd century BCE
  • Culture: Cypriot
  • Medium: Limestone
  • Dimensions: WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 13 1/2 × 48 × 5 1/2 in., 129 lb. (34.3 × 121.9 cm)
  • Classification: Cesnola Inscriptions
  • Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
  • Object Number: 74.51.2317
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.