African & Oceanic Art | Antiquities - 8th June 2021
Lot 23
A Roman marble stele
Estimate £10,000 - £15,000
+ Buyers Premium
Description
A Roman marble stele
circa 2nd century AD
carved in low relief two olive wreaths and Greek lettering INSERT GREEK LETTERING The People (and) the Young Men (honour) Demetrios, (son) of Metrodoros, (the son) of Leukios,
60cm high, 50cm wide, 23cm deep.
Provenance
Discovered by the present owner in the rockery of their garden, Whiteparish, Wiltshire.
Probably originating from Lydia / Caria, Asia Minor, part of the west coast of modern day Turkey, the stele would have been presented in honour to Demetrious for outstanding service from a group of cadets, possibly of which he was part of. This may have been the base for an award, though the shape now appears that it has been altered.