Funerary table (mensa)

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Inventory number

ΝΑ 1955 ΝΑΜ 90

Category

Funerary monument

Period

Classical Period

Date

350-325 BC

Dimensions

Height: 0.593 m
Length: 0.98 m
Width: 0.9 m

Material

Marble from Penteli

Location

Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes

Description
Bibliography

Large, square base with relief decoration on three of its sides. It was found in 1955 in the so-called "House of Proclus", built into a niche of a small domestic shrine, together with two more reliefs (ΝΑ 1955 ΝΑΜ 11, ΝΑ 1955 ΝΑΜ 12).

The base was used more than once. Originally the upper surface had a depression for the insertion of an unknown funerary monument. Later this surface was re-worked and the base was probably used as a funerary table (mensa). Lastly, it was moved in the "House of Proclus".

On the front side a young man is depicted who bids farewell to a seated woman, perhaps the deceased herself. She touches her hand to her face, a gesture indicative of reflection or sorrow. Behind her, a little girl with crossed legs leans on her chair, while behind the man a small boy is standing. On the block's left side, a seated youth, perhaps the deceased, surrounded by four philosophers, converses with two of them. On the right side, a young man with his hand on his brow stands in front of three women. The woman in the middle mourns, hiding her face with her hand. Here we can't be sure which figure represents the deceased. Some say it is the youth, others point to the young girl at the far left.

Μηλιάδης, Ι., «Ανασκαφαί νοτίως της Ακροπόλεως», Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας του έτους 1955, 1960, σελ. 48, πίν. 6β, 7α
Δεσπίνης, Γ., «Επιτύμβιοι τράπεζαι μετ’ αναγλύφων παραστάσεων», Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς 1963, σελ. 46-48
Schmaltz, B., «Zu einer attischen Grabmahlbasis des 4. Jhs v. Chr.», Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts. Athenische Abteilung 93, 1978, σελ. 83-97, εικ. 27.1-2
Karivieri, A., «The ‘House of Proclus’ on the Southern Slope of the Acropolis: A Contribution», στο P. Castrén (επιμ.), Post - Herulian Athens. Aspects of Life and Culture in Athens A.D. 267-529, Helsinki, 1994, σελ. 119-120, εικ. 18-19
Baumer, L.Ε., «Klassische Bildwerke für tote Philosophen? Zu zwei spaetklassischen Votivskulpturen aus Athen und ihrer Wiederverwendung in der spaeten Kaiserzeit», Antike Kunst 44, 2001, σελ. 63-66, εικ. 24
Polojiorghi, Μ., «Neue Untersuchungen zu einem Grabmal des 4. Jahrhunderts v. Chr», Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts. Athenische Abteilung 117, 2002, σελ. 91-114
Μπρούσκαρη, Μ., Ανασκαφές νοτίως της Ακροπόλεως. Τα γλυπτά. Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς 2002, Αθήνα, 2004, σελ. 143-148, εικ. 145-148
Παντερμαλής, Δ., Ελευθεράτου, Σ., Βλασσοπούλου, Χ., Μουσείο Ακρόπολης. Οδηγός, Αθήνα, 2016, σελ. 47, εικ. 39