Grave Marker (Stele) of a Child named Apolexis
| Culture | Greek |
|---|---|
| Title | Grave Marker (Stele) of a Child named Apolexis |
| Date | 425–375 BCE |
| Medium | Marble |
| Dimensions | Object: 18 × 14 1/8 × 3 1/4 in. (45.7 × 35.9 × 8.3 cm) Overall: 18 × 14 1/8 × 3 1/4 in. (45.8 × 35.9 × 8.3 cm) |
| Credit Line | V.G. Simkhovitch Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 63.105.33 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A rectangular relief panel with the lower portion broken off is set into an architectural frame with a triangular pediment above and flat columns to each side. A boy is shown in profile facing right. He encloses a small object in his raised left hand and also holds something in his right hand, which is stretched in front of him.
Pillars or rectangular slabs of stone were often carved with inscriptions and images in relief. These stele were used as grave markers in various areas throughout the ancient world, particularly in Athens, during the fifth and fourth centuries BCE. This example served as a memorial for a young boy, who is depicted in low relief and placed within an architectural frame. The child’s name, Apolexis, is inscribed on the lintel of the structure. The stele would have been placed in one of the many family funerary plots that were located along the roads leading to Athens. Infant mortality was high and many such memorials were made. The image of this boy as he plays with some of his toys represents Greek interest in naturalism and continues to serve as a poignant evocation of childhood.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
Request this image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request.
This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.
Cite this page
"Grave Marker (Stele) of a Child named Apolexis | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=63.105.33