Greek Artifacts

Epigraphic documentation from the 5th century BC to the 6th century AD

The Maffeiano Museum - Room with greek artifacts on the first floorMaffeian Lapidary Museum

The Museo Lapidario Maffeiano is one of the few Italian museums provided with a large group of Greek inscriptions, representative of the figurative culture and of the Hellenic history of different centers and periods.

The Maffeiano Museum - Room with greek artifacts on the first floorMaffeian Lapidary Museum

In the room on the first floor, a hundred Greek epigraphs are exhibited, which were collected by Scipione Maffei.

The Maffeiano Museum - Room with greek artifacts on the first floorMaffeian Lapidary Museum

Most of the Greek slabs come from the coastal centers of Asia Minor (today's Turkey), from the Cyclades and Ionian islands, from Attica and the Peloponnese.

Funerary stele (1st century A.D.)Maffeian Lapidary Museum

These territories in the 18th century were affected by the rich commercial traffic of the Republic of Venice.

Funerary stele (4th century B.C.)Maffeian Lapidary Museum

The time span covered by this epigraphic documentation is rather wide and goes from the 5th century BC to the 6th century AD. 

Block (2nd century B.C.)Maffeian Lapidary Museum

The slabs are mainly figured and many have a sepulchral character, but there are also votive reliefs, as well as public and honorary inscriptions.

Funerary stele (2nd century B.C.)Maffeian Lapidary Museum

The steles represent often the deceased, alone or with other people.

Funerary stele (2nd century B.C.)Maffeian Lapidary Museum

Frequent representations include the farewell greetings given by a relative or loved one.

Funerary stele (1st century B.C.)Maffeian Lapidary Museum

There are also images of the funeral banquet or scenes depicting the deceased at home, sometimes surrounded by slaves or maids.

Many of the tombstones have a naiskos structure, that is of a small temple, delimited by small pillars or columns and crowned at the top by a tympanum.

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