greek-museums:Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos:Preview: Hellenistic grave stelai from De
greek-museums:Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos:Preview: Hellenistic grave stelai from Demetrias.The painted stelai of Demetrias are original works of Hellenistic painting. Most of them were discovered built into the fortification walls of Demetrias, covered with a layer of bricks from the superstructure of the walls- which helped preserve the colours. The use of colour does not indicate wealth or luxury. It was an easier and cheaper alternative to sculptural monuments. The paint was directly applied on the white marble. The first drawing was executed in black, indicating all the details of the scene. The painter then filled the drawing with paint, using a brush. The colours were applied in subdued tones, the darker and more vivid colours were applied last to create shadows and highlights. Chemical analysis has determined that the colours used were Egyptian blue, black, red, white, ochre and protoxide of lead yellow or reddish. The stelai were painted with egg tempera. Mineral and vegetable pigments were mixed with proteins and oil to make the paint more malleable.On most of the stelai a Herm is also depicted, invoking the god Hermes for forgiveness and justice in the Underworld. There are inscriptions with the name and the descent of the deceased. Sometimes an epigram is also inscribed. The epigram illustrates the conditions of the death, and the virtues of the deceased.These stelai offer valuable information about Demetrias’ population; Macedonians were the second group of the population in numerical order, after the local Magnetes. Most of them were in the military, or held other public offices in the service of the king. Some of the stelai have inscriptions in both greek and phoenician. Merchants from Phoenicia were active in Demetrias. Jason son of Antipatros, and Diokles, came from the city Askalon of Judea, as their stelai inform, while others came from the phoenician cities of Sidon,Tyros, Gaza and Arados. -- source link
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