IG X 2 1 901: Funerary Stele for Herennia Syriska
Modern Publication(s): Villoison 302 no.3 (editio princeps); CIG 1982; Furtwängler 15; IG X 2 1 901; Boschung et al. 80
Brief description: Funerary stele.
‘Doubtless this stele is identical with that seen by Villoison at Salonika… the inscription of which he copied as follows (Böckh, CIG 1982).’ (Furtwängler)
Attributes
Inscription Type: Funerary
Object Type: Stele
Material: Grey and white, large crystalline marble. (Boschung et al.)
Original Location: Makedonia (Mygdonia) – Thessaloniki. (Villoison)
Provenance: Pella? ‘Villoison does not give the place where it was found; that this was at Pella was apparently not alleged until later, when it came to be sold.’ (Furtwängler)
Date: 1C BC (Furtwängler); 20 BC - 20 AD, based on the style of the figures. (Boschung et al.)
Dimensions: H. 0.77 m; W. 0.7 m; D. cannot be determined. (Boschung et al.)
Layout: Three lines of text. ‘The workmanship is inferior and hasty.’ (Furtwängler)
Writing: Inscribed.
Condition: The stele is damaged at the edges, but the extent of the damage could not be ascertained when seen by Boschung, due it its location (in a wall). Approximately one-third of the bottom right-hand corner of the stele [the portion containing the inscription] is missing. The framing ridge on the right side is also corroded and destroyed. The upper corners and the finial of the stele have been chipped off. The seated figure is in good condition, with only slight damage to the left leg of the stool, her foot, shoulder and face. The servants, accessories and animals are carved in shallower relief. (Boschung et al.)
Decoration: ‘A woman, veiled, is seated to the left on a chair with cushions. She is the dead Herennia Syriska. To her, as the embodiment of her soul after death, belongs the serpent coiled round the tree which stands behind her. Before her stands her servant who holds a small casket, and appears to be placing a little lamb on her mistress’s lap. On the right is a male figure, very much damaged and somewhat smaller. This is Marcus Herennius…; he is wrapped in a cloak; in front of him stands his slave-boy…. The serpent on the tree to the right and the horse looking over the wall belong to Herennius.’ (Furtwängler)
Collection
Location: Chatsworth: theatre wing, ground floor. (Boschung et al.)
Collector(s): Found by J. B. G. d’ Annse de Villoison 1786 in Thessaloniki, in the house of the French consul. (Villoison) It is likely to have originated in Thessaloniki. The collector was George Cavendish. It was still intact when found. (Boschung et al.)
‘The “bit of marble” was George Cavendish’s trophy of long travel. He pounced upon it in Macedonia, and the serpent encouraged his kind zeal: after securing it, he and his fellow-traveller, Lord Elphinstone, rode on towards the East, and months, perhaps years, elapsed before I was gladdened by the arrival of the precious fragment.’ (Cavendish)
In 1832 it was moved to its current storage location and provided with an indication of origin ‘Pella’. (Boschung et al.)
Date collected: Found: 1786; collected: 1832 (see above) (Boschung et al.)
Accession or catalogue number: Not known.
Translation
Herennia Syriska and her son Marcus Herennius Agathocles, farewell – and you also, very much, whoever you are!
Bibliography
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. 80.
W. Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, Handbook of Chatsworth and Hardwick (London 1845) 114.
A. Furtwängler, ‘Ancient Sculptures at Chatsworth House,’ JHS 21 (1901), 209-228, no. 15.
J.-B. G. d’Ansse de Villoison, Histoire de l'académie royale des inscriptions 47 (1809), 302 no.3.
Web Links
Image(s)
Furtwängler, Fig. 8.
Boschung et al., Plate 72.2.
