About the Image on the Front Cover This image is one the most
endearing of all the sculptures made during the Classical Period of
Athens. It shows a husband and wife whose names, inscribed above
their heads, are Philoxenos, dressed in the uniform of a hoplite,
one of many foot soldiers fighting in phalanx formation, wearing a
metal helmet, breastplate, short tunic called exomis and sandals,
and holding a shield on his left arm, and Philoumene, his wife,
wearing a long robe, called peplos, flowing down yet attached at
the waist, with her hair in a snood and elevated shoes. The pose is
classic, standing straight in serene elegance, one knee bent as if
they were ready to walk away from each other. They gaze at each
other for a tender and sad farewell and shake hands to express
their mutual love and loyalty. This scene is carved in relief on a
grave stele made of marble, white with a hue of grey, from a quarry
on the south side of Mount Pentelikon, about ten miles northeast of
Athens. It may have been painted originally, but the paint has
disappeared. The dimensions are 102.2 cm (401/4 in.) in height,
44.5 cm (17 1/2 in.) in width and 16.5 cm (61/2 in.) in depth. It
is dated of about 400 BCE, during the return to normal life in
Athens after the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BCE. The
timing may indicate that the tribute was from the wife to her
husband killed in action and, for this reason, that the gravestone
was paid for by her wealthy family. This image is reproduced here
from the J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu,
California, 83.AA.378. See the Museum's Handbook of the Antiquities
Collection,
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
