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Lot Essay
The stele is topped with a large anthemion carved in the form of an elaborate palmette with stems in the form of spiral tendrils rising from acanthus leaves, with a small phiale mesomphalos at the top between the converging fronds, and two larger phiale either side. The two-line Greek inscription below, in two hexameters, translates as:
"here lies buried the sacred head, the theomant from the holy sanctuary of Delos, a master in the interpretation of oracles".
A short distance lower on the right, follows a name inscription "Pyrrichos".
The importance of the epigram lies in the fact that it reproduces the formulation “sacred head”, therefore Pyrrhichos’ lyrical funerary inscription harks back to the famous epitaph said to have been inscribed on Homer’s gravestone, which is known only from literary sources. The epigram itself was often reused, with minor modifications dictated by the particular dead being honoured, however, these epigrams all date from a much later period. When Clairmont published the stele in 1991, he believed it to be the earliest, authentic document on stone, alluding to the Homeric epigram, the literary tradition of which can probably be dated a little earlier. The figure of the deceased, Pyrrichos, would have been painted below, either seated or standing, on his own or with another figure.
The inscription informs that Pyrrhichos lived and served at the Temple of Apollo on the Isle of Delos, one of ancient Greece’s holiest sites. Here, he interpreted the prophecies uttered by the oracle on the god’s behalf for the benefit of pilgrims. According to mythology, the island was the birthplace of Apollo, god of the sun and of divination, and of his twin sister Artemis. Once a floating island not attached to the ocean floor, Delos was under the political sovereignty of the city state of Athens.
"here lies buried the sacred head, the theomant from the holy sanctuary of Delos, a master in the interpretation of oracles".
A short distance lower on the right, follows a name inscription "Pyrrichos".
The importance of the epigram lies in the fact that it reproduces the formulation “sacred head”, therefore Pyrrhichos’ lyrical funerary inscription harks back to the famous epitaph said to have been inscribed on Homer’s gravestone, which is known only from literary sources. The epigram itself was often reused, with minor modifications dictated by the particular dead being honoured, however, these epigrams all date from a much later period. When Clairmont published the stele in 1991, he believed it to be the earliest, authentic document on stone, alluding to the Homeric epigram, the literary tradition of which can probably be dated a little earlier. The figure of the deceased, Pyrrichos, would have been painted below, either seated or standing, on his own or with another figure.
The inscription informs that Pyrrhichos lived and served at the Temple of Apollo on the Isle of Delos, one of ancient Greece’s holiest sites. Here, he interpreted the prophecies uttered by the oracle on the god’s behalf for the benefit of pilgrims. According to mythology, the island was the birthplace of Apollo, god of the sun and of divination, and of his twin sister Artemis. Once a floating island not attached to the ocean floor, Delos was under the political sovereignty of the city state of Athens.