Funerary Sculpture

Michelangelo Buonarroti
Prisoner
ca. 1530
marble
(intended for Tomb of Julius II)
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

Michelangelo Buonarroti
Prisoner
ca. 1525-30
marble
(intended for Tomb of Julius II)
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

Michelangelo Buonarroti
Prisoner
ca. 1525-30
marble
(intended for Tomb of Julius II)
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

Michelangelo Buonarroti
Prisoner
ca. 1530
marble
(intended for Tomb of Julius II)
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

Roman Empire
Story of Phaedra and Hippolytus
AD 230-240
marble sarcophagus panel
Gallerie degli Uffizi, Florence

Ancient Greek Culture
Kouros
530-520 BC
marble tomb statue
(excavated on the island of Kea)
National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Ancient Greek Culture
Kouros
530 BC
marble tomb statue
(excavated in Attica)
National Archaeological Museum,
Athens

Ancient Greek Culture
Grave Naiskos - Archestrate
330-320 BC
marble relief
(excavated in Attica)
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden

Ancient Greek Culture
Grave Stele - Stratokleides
2nd century BC
marble relief
  Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden  

Ancient Greek Culture
Grave Stele - Young Woman
440 BC
limestone relief
(excavated in Thebes)
National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Ancient Greek Culture
Grave Stele - Alexandra, priestess of Isis
AD 120-140
marble relief
(excavated in Athens)
National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Ancient Greek Culture
Grave Stele - Mynno
410-400 BC
marble relief
(excavated in Athens)
Antikensammlung, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Ancient Greek Culture
Grave Stele - Sosistratos
AD 141-142
marble
(excavated in Athens)
National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Ancient Greek Culture
Grave Stele - Two Men
2nd century BC
marble relief
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden

Ancient Greek Culture
Hermes
25 BC - AD 25
 marble tomb statue
(excavated in the Peloponnese)
National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Ancient Greek Culture
Draped Woman
2nd century BC
marble tomb statue
(excavated on Delos)
National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Chorus:  Listen to the conclusion of my many respectful words.

Pelasgus:  I am listening. Speak on; it will not escape me.

Chorus:  We have girdles and belts to hold our robes together.

Pelasgus:  I suppose that is appropriate for women to have.

Chorus:  Well, these, I tell you, give us a fine method –

Pelasgus:  Say what words these are that you are going to utter.

Chorus:  If you don't make a promise to our band that we can rely on –

Pelasgus:  What is your girdle-method meant to achieve?

Chorus:  To adorn these images with tablets of a novel kind.

Pelasgus:  These words are a riddle. Speak plainly. 

Chorus:  With all speed – to hang ourselves from these gods. 

Pelasgus:  I hear words that flay my heart.

Chorus:  You understand? I have opened your eyes to see clearly.

– Aeschylus, from Suppliants (ca. 470-460 BC), translated by Alan H. Sommerstein (2008)