An iconographical observation on the LHIIIC “Painted Stele” from Mycenae (in Greek)

Θεόδωρος Ηλιόπουλος In P. Adam-Veleni & K. Tzanavari (eds), Δινήεσσα: τιμητικός τόμος για την Κατερίνα Ρωμιοπούλου (Thessaloniki 2012): 35-45

Abstract

The “painted stele” was discovered in 1893 by Christos Tsountas in a chamber tomb at
Mycenae and was immediately published. It is covered with stucco and painted in LHIIIC style. A “Stele Painter” has been thought of, responsible for painting both this and the “Warrior Vase” in LHIIIC Mycenae, this was understood since the time of the editio princeps. The fact that we have a certain LHIIIC pictorial funerary representation, and moreover on a stele, is intriguing enough by itself. A new interpretation of the little
surviving parts of the upper row of the composition is the subject of this paper. The
piece of furniture at the left-hand corner, a seat with a seated person according to
Tsountas and all scholarship thereafter, can now be examined with two alternatives in
mind: either that of a slaughtering table, or, less plausibly, that of a prothesis bed.
Slaughtering tables, known from about 15 or 16 examples in seals and a single one in
the Haghia Triada sarcophagus, do not deviate very much from the form of this
furniture, albeit usually depicted with three (therefore six in all), rather than two feet.
The lower part of a blue chiton of a person thought to be seated on this “seat” could
belong to a standing priestess looking right. Beds in two or three prothesis scenes could also be taken into account, but surely a prothesis bed with its dead occupant would occupy the centre of the top row, therefore a prothesis for Tsountas’ stele is not
probable. If then an animal sacrifice, analogous to that of the Haghia Triada
sarcophagus, was depicted in the stele, the preserved lower part of the dress by it
belongs either to a standing officiating priest (ess?) or a standing mourner. The
continuation of the frieze to the right may have included a tree and other standing
figures, even perhaps a built funerary construction, if we adhere to the Haghia Triada
sarcophagus model. Comparison however with the file of mourners depicted on the
sarcophagus from Tanagra tomb 22 may more plausibly for the mainland indicate also
four (?) standing mourners.