Honorary document relief. "The Bendis Relief"

Summary

The relief is made of white marble. The lower part of the stele has broken off, and the upper right corner is missing (might have been separately applied). Small chips on the antae and the cornice. Traces of the originally painted leaves on the ovolo moulding can be seen with the naked eye.

In 1994 a marble sample was extracted for isotopic analysis. The results were inconclusive but pointed to a Carraran or Thasian origin. In 2006 the relief underwent conservation and was remounted.

Description of object

The stele shaft which is adorned by two wreaths and an inscription is crowned by an ovolo moulding supporting a relief in the canonical shape of votive reliefs with a socle, antae and an architrave with cornice and antefixes above. Within the deep space created under the architectural frame nine figures are represented. On the right two large, frontal figures (Bendis and Asklepios Giustiniani?). To the left two smaller persons are advancing, both bearded and wrapped in large cloaks, both carrying something in their hands which was originally rendered in paint. Above them in a window-like cave five figures are rendered in low relief. The lower part of the stele has broken off diagonally, and the upper right hand corner is missing, though a dressing with a flat chisel and part of the hole of a pi-clamp (0.2) on the upper edge may indicate that originally it was separately applied. Small chips off the antae and the cornice.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Marble identification method

• isotopic analysis.Results: d13C, 2,284 - d18O, -0,668.

Bibliography

F. Poulsen (1951), Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 231.

M. Moltesen (1995), Catalogue. Greece in the Classical Period. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 73.