Aristion\'s tombstone

[Jona Lendering]

A German professor from Munich, whose name I do not remember, has studied ancient sculptures in the Munich Glyptothek with UV-light. He is now able to reconstruct the patterns of painting that were once there. The results were shown in a nice exposition in the Amsterdam Allard Pierson Museum ([url:be5brveu]http://cf.uba.uva.nl/apm/FrameSet2.html[/url]). This is the tombstone of a hoplite named Aristion, c.510-500 BCE. I like it very much this way.

[hoplite14gr]

Thanks for posting Jona.

The original is in the National Meuseum of Athens
Unpainted copy is on the Marathon tomp where the original was found.
ARISTION means brave or the one who fulfilled his combat duty with bravery.

He carries the sympol of Apollo on the shoulderguards upper part and the "gorgoneio" of Athena on the lower part both as talismans.
Inteesting the blue felt as arming cup on his head.

Kind regards

[Johnny Shumate]

Did the Greeks paint their armor this way or is it artistic license..?
Johnny

[Odenathus]

I seem to recall somewhere that the top of this carving has been broken off and reworked in more recent times. What was probably there originally was a corinthian helmet in the classic top-of-the-head position.

[hoplite14gr]

The outer layer could always been painted. The Alexander Mosaic indicates that Alexander's linothorax was painted purple.
Argives tried to keep the outer layer white.
The Spartans are reputed to paint th outer layer red.

Purple definetly would be for the elite troops or royalty.

The Vergina tomp finds indicated the even metal objects (helmets) could be painted.

Hope it helps
Kind regards