SEG XLVII 245: Marble Lekythos for Pyrrokles

Modern Publication(s): CAT III 777; Boschung et al. 78; SEG XLVII 245

Brief description: Inscribed marble grave lekythos for Pyrro<k>les of Potamos and the daughter of –sostratos of Kephale.

Attributes

Inscription Type: Funerary

Object Type: Lekythos

Material: Marble. ‘Probably Pentelic marble.’ (Boschung et al.)

Original Location: Unknown (Boschung et al.)

Provenance: Attica (Boschung et al.)

Date: c.360-350 BC, based on similar many-figured representations on lekythoi. The inscription does not help in dating this object. (Boschung et al.)

Dimensions: H. 0.485 m.

Layout: Inscribed above the woman on the left of the lekythos, the name: ΠΥΡΡΟ<Κ>ΛΗΣ | ΠΑΓΛΕΟΥΣ | ΠΟΤΑΜΙ[Ο]Σ. Inscribed above the figure on the right of the lekythos, the name: ??...ΣΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΥ | ΚΕΦΑΛΗ(θεν). (Petzl in Boschung et al.)

Clairmont instead reads ΠΥΡΡΟΣ | ΠΑΓΛΕΟΥΣ | ΠΟΤΑΜΙ[Ο]Σ for the inscription on the left, and ] ΦP [ | ] TH ΣΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΥ | ΚΕΦΑΛΗ(θεν) for the inscription on the right.

Writing: Inscribed. Clairmont notes that the inscription for Pyrro<k>les is ‘definitely later’. Boschung et al. concur that the daughter of --sostratos died first. They note that the man’s name (Purro<k>les) has been inscribed with less care, in larger letters, and further suggest that the inconsistent positioning of the inscriptions in relation to the figures supports this hypothesis.

Condition: The base and neck of the lekythos are missing. The shoulder area and relief are both heavily abraded. (Boschung et al.)

Decoration: Above a projecting, dividing strip are, from left to right: a female servant in a long chiton carrying a little box on her raised left hand, which rests against her left shoulder. A woman in a chiton and cloak with a raised left hand, the part of the veil that would usually cover her head is down. Her right hand is extended towards a man, also in chiton and cloak. Between the two, a small naked child runs towards the woman (the mother) with arms raised. (Boschung et al.)

Clairmont interprets the figure on the right as ‘a female figure (her head lost)’, and suggests that this is ‘the daughter of Sostratos’, rather than the central figure.

Collection

Location: Chatsworth: West Lodge (Museum). (Boschung et al.)

Collector(s): Not known.

Date collected: Not known.

Accession or catalogue number: Not known.

Bibliography

C. Clairmont, Classical Attic Tombstones (Kilchberg, 1993-95) III 777.

D. Boschung, H. von Hesberg, A. Linfert, Monumenta Artis Romanae XXII: Die antiken Skulpturen in Chatsworth sowie in Dunham Massey und Withington Hall (Mainz 1997), no. 78.

Image(s)

Boschung et al., Plates 71 and 72.1.