Description: A white marble stele, slightly damaged (w: 0.525 × h: 1.42 × d: 0.20). There is a pediment above, outlined with moulding and flanked by small acroteria. For a full description see Smith, l.c.

Text: Inscribed on the lower part of the face, 0.54 below the pediment (so presumably below a painted image). The layout is compressed and irregular.

Letters: Second-early first century BCE; 0.01-0.015.

Date: Second to early first century BCE (monument, lettering)

Findspot: Aphrodisias: Necropolis, South-west area: brought in from the fields some kilometers south west of the city, towards Bingeç.

Original location: Unknown

Last recorded location: Museum (Inv. no. 56776)

English translation

Translation source: Rigsby, 2000

Zenon, son of Artemidoros, priest of Zeus of the Goneis. Odatis, daughter of Dionysios, wife of Zenon. This stone barrier, traveler, already confines the handsome son of Zenon, Zenobios. At twenty-five he descended to the house of Acheron, leaving in the bed-chamber a care-worn wife. This man Persephone led down to the house of Hades, loving him for his beauty and handsomeness. But he left twin griefs to his dear sisters, and to his unhappy mother tears and groans, they buried him as a neighbour to his brother, a great grief, and bringing no small mourning to his city. But stop your journeying, stranger, moisten your eyes with tears, and speak a greeting to those below earth.

English translation

Translation source: Jones and Smith, 1994

Zenon, son of Artemidoros, priest of Zeus of the Goneis. Odatis, daughter of Dionysios, wife of Zeno. This stone barrier, traveler, already confines the handsome son of Zenon, Zenobios. At twenty-five he descended to the house of Acheron, leaving here Lamo (?) his care-worn (?) wife. This man Persephone led down to the house of Hades, loving him for his beauty and handsomeness. But he left twin (?) griefs to his dear sisters, and to his unhappy mother tears and groans. Near (?) [to his mother, sc.] did his brothers lay him, a great grief, and bringing no small mourning to his city. But stop your journeying, stranger, moisten your eyes with tears, and speak a greeting to those below earth.

German translation

Translation source: Merkelbach and Stauber, 1998

Zenon, sohn des Artemidoros, Priester des Zeus der Goneis. Odatis, Tochter des Dionysios, Ehefrau des Zenon.

Wanderer, diese steinerne Schranke enthält Zenobios, den schon fast erwachsenen Sohn des Zenon. Als 25jähriger ging er hinab zum Haus des Acheron, und liess hier zurück seine traurige Gattin Lamo. Ihn hat Phersephone in der Hades aus Liebe herabgeholt, wegen seiner Gestalt und Schönheit. Als Nachbarn (des Vaters) haben ihn die Brüder beigesetz, ihn, der ihnen grosses Leid und der Vaterstadt keine geringe Trauer gebracht hat. Fremder, halt ein in deinem Schreiten, vergiess Tränen aus deinen Augenwinkeln und sprich: Seid gegruusst, ihr unter der Erde.

Images

Fig. 1. View (Mehmet Ali Döğenci)

Fig. 2. View (M. Roueché, 1990)

Fig. 3. Text (Mehmet Ali Döğenci)

Fig. 4. Detail (M. Roueché, 1990)

Fig. 5. Detail (M. Roueché, 1990)