Funerary Stela of C. Julius Valerius

3rd century C.E.

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Object Label

This funerary stela, the oldest in this exhibition by several centuries, shows a boy who died when he was three. His father, a Roman soldier, was stationed near Alexandria. His Egyptian mother is not mentioned. The child’s costume and pose are Roman, but his long sidelock of hair is traditionally Egyptian, as are the jackal god Anubis and the falcon god Horus above his head. The griffin in the lower right corner represents the classical goddess Nemesis, who controlled life and death.

Caption

Funerary Stela of C. Julius Valerius, 3rd century C.E.. Limestone, pigment, 14 3/16 x 10 1/16 x 2 3/16 in. (36 x 25.5 x 5.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.105. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Funerary Stela of C. Julius Valerius

Date

3rd century C.E.

Period

Roman Period

Geography

Possible place collected: Terenouthis (Kom Abu Billo), Egypt

Medium

Limestone, pigment

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

14 3/16 x 10 1/16 x 2 3/16 in. (36 x 25.5 x 5.5 cm)

Inscriptions

C. Julius Valerius, son of C. Julius Severus, a solider of Legio II Traiana. He lived 3 years.

Credit Line

Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour

Accession Number

16.105

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