Published Phrygian Marble Votive Stele with Zeus Ampelites

Culture: Greek/Phrygia

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Marble

Dimensions: 38.6 cm x 31.3 cm

Price: 22 000 Euro

Ref: 2622

Provenance: Collection M. Maurizio Versano (1916-1980), acquired in the 1930s. In a Swiss private collection since 1998. Published in: Bulletin de Correspondance hellénique, vol. 107, 1983, p. 535, fig. 8.

Condition: Unrestored

Description: Magnificent, almost completely preserved marble round stele from Phrygia dating to the Roman period, which is dedicated to the local god Zeus Ampelites. It depicts on top the bearded god with curly hair, which cascades on the sides to the shoulder. Zeus Ampelites wears a cloak, his right hand protrudes and rests with stretched out fingers on the left chest. Below him two pairs of oxen to the right, which look at the viewer. In the register below two cattle, under the first one a suckling calf. In the background another calf on a base. Also here all animals turn their heads towards the viewer. The cow with the suckling calf can also be found on steles in the Museum of Afyon (e.g. inventory number 8058) and are to be understood as the “signature” of the workshop. Finally, on the base of the stele is the four-line Greek inscription, which mentions the two donors of the stele and their requests. It reads: “Όνήσιμος κέ Θάλος υπέρ υπαρχόντων Δει Άνπελίτη εύχήν”. The translation is to be understood: “Onesimos and Thalos have the kind request to Zeus Ampelites to take care for all existing goods (their possessions).” Phrygia practiced a complex religiosity during the Roman Emperor period. There was a series of local deities, of which Zeus Ampelites was one of the most important ones. Although one could derive from his name Ampelites (άμπελος = grapevine) the protector of vines and viticulture, steles like the present one confirm that the name was rather to be understood as the origin and location. The depiction with cattle and horses suggests that Zeus Ampelites was a protector and conserver of horses and cattle. See: Louis Robert “Documents d’Asie Mineure”, in: Bulletin de Correspondance hellénique, vol. 107, 1983, p. 529-542. Mounted.