Throughout the Classical Age, gravesites were
marked with carved stones that gave clues to the
deceased's rank and position in life. These stele
depicted men and women the way they wished to
be remembered for all eternity. This charming
example is part of a visual tradition that
stretches back to Archaic Greece. It depicts a
young hunter on horseback, accompanied by his
dog. Ownership of horses and the sport of
hunting were normally the privileges of the
wealthy and noble elite, so it seems likely that
this is the stele of a young provincial aristocrat.
There is no legible inscription (it may have been
painted on) so we will never know his name. Yet,
whenever we look upon this memorial stone, we
will remember his passage through the world.
- (PF.2099)
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