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Relief to two heroes

One common type of sanctuary relief shows a man reclining on a couch with food or offerings in front of him, and other people in attendance. In the Greek period these reliefs were dedicated by cities to honour local figures thought to have super-human powers (heroes). The scenes that show heroes include a snake or horseman, both symbols of the cult of the dead. In the Roman period similar reliefs were used by individual families to honour their dead relatives (such as GR.21.1865).

This relief was dedicated jointly to two friends or relatives, both shown reclining on couches. High in the background are three horses and their riders, half hidden by a curtain.

Production place: western Asia Minor, probably
Date: around  100–1 BC
Marble (Proconnesian)
On loan from Trinity College, Cambridge

Object Number: Loan Ant.1

see the online collections database