Key Information Monument Type- Grave Stele Material- Marble
Date- c340 B.C. Height- 1.68m Technique- High Relief Style -Late
Classical
Slide 3
Discovery Found at the bottom of the Ilissos river in Athens (
2 nd of December 1874 ) The young mans arms and nose have been
eroded away due to the river. The back of the old man has also been
destroyed.
Slide 4
What is shown? Aged farther mourns Dog sniffing the ground
behind his master Dead mans young servant half asleep exhausted by
the painful loss sits on the steps Young (now dead) man leans legs
crossed against a pillar
Slide 5
Holes can be seen on either sides of the figures heads where it
is thought metal wreaths would be put into place. Parian sculptor
Skopas (or a sculptor from his workshop) is thought to be the
creator of this relief.
Slide 6
Dead Young Man The young (now dead) man holds a Lagobolon (a
club used in the hunting of hares) in his left hand. The fact that
he may have been a hunter is reinforced by the dog bellow him
sniffing the floor. The young man crosses his legs causing his left
calf muscle to be pushed out, this technique conveys a realistic
sense of movement of musculature. His stomach is relaxed as he
rests against the wall however this realism is shattered by the
fact that prominent groin muscles can be seen bulging. The crossing
of the legs is also for me unrealistic and uncomfortable.
Slide 7
Slide 8
Influence Due to the grand stance and the nude state of the
young man it is thought that the figure was influenced by a free
standing statue of a hero. This would have been due to when
creating a grave marker of remembrance it seems right to exaggerate
the deceased as to immortalize them in a heroic flattering way.
(Maybe link to another heroic statue done from the same time
period?)
Slide 9
Old Man The fact that this figure is old is highlighted by the
staff, old haggard face and beard. The bowing of the head conveys
the weight of grief on his shoulders as he comes to terms with his
sons death?. It is unfortunate that half of this characters body
has been destroyed (presumably due to the effects of the river) and
we can only guess what the rest of this stele would have held.
Slide 10
Slide 11
Young Boy (servant/slave?) The crouched figure of the young boy
on the steps sums up the grief obviously felt by the family of the
young man. I think that the many different characters seen in this
grave marker could show just how loved the young man was.
Slide 12
Slide 13
Comparison A comparison can be made between this fetal grief
stricken position and that of a marble grave stele of a youth from
Aegina island or Slalamis island (430-420BC) where the slave is
looking off into the distance distracted and distant. This lack of
eye contact in the Ilissos stele could be seen as good or bad.
Slide 14
The Dog The use of a dog to convey death (seen in many other
grave makers) shows that dead are being sensed. A dog can also
connote loyalty The fact that three humans and a dog are seen in
this relief clearly highlights the advantages of a relief as the
sculptor has more room to explore the use of multiple
characters.
Slide 15
Slide 16
Thanks for Watching Well its a relief that thats all over isn't
it.