Stele of Arniadas
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| Stele of Arniadas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Material | Limestone |
| Height | 1.9 meters |
| Width | 55 cm |
| Created | c. 550 BC |
| Discovered | 1846 Ionian Islands, Greece |
| Present location | Corfu, Ionian Islands, Greece |
The Stele of Arniadas is an Archaic-period funerary stele in Corfu, Greece, found on the tomb of Arniadas, a warrior. It was intended to mark his grave and honour his memory by enumerating his bravery in a battle near the river Arachthos in the location of ancient Ambracia, modern-day Arta.[1] The stele was found in 1846 at the necropolis of the Corfu Palaiopolis in the suburb of Garitsa, near the Tomb of Menecrates, after a demolition of Venetian fortifications in the area by the British, who at the time ruled Corfu. The date of the stele is early 6th century BC.
The stele bears an epigram written vertically in verses following an alternating direction writing style called boustrophedon. The inscription describes the details of the death of warrior Arniadas in a battle near ships on the banks of the river Arachthos and praises the dead warrior's bravery. The Homeric hexameter of the verses, the proximity of the battle to ships, and the pompous style of the writing are clear indications that the inscription was influenced by the writings of Homer.[2] Such inscriptions were common for that era, and exist in other funerary inscriptions in Corfu of that time.[2] The Stele of Arniadas is exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu.[1][3]
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The stele was found in 1846 at the necropolis of the Corfu Palaiopolis, in the suburb of Garitsa, near the Tomb of Menecrates, after a demolition of the Venetian-era fortifications in the area by the British, who at the time ruled Corfu.[1][2][4] The stele has been dated to the early 6th century BC.[1] It is 0.55 m wide and 1.90 m high and made of limestone.[2] The four holes on the stone functioned as lifting points, assisting in the process of lifting the stele and placing it on the tomb.[2] There is also speculation that the Lion of Menecrates, found near his tomb, may actually belong to the tomb of Arniadas.[3][5]
