Stele of Arniadas

About

The stele was found in 1846 at the necropolis of the Corfu Palaiopolis, in the suburb of Garitsa, near the Tomb of Menecrates, after a demolition of the Venetian-era fortifications in the area by the British, who at the time ruled Corfu. The stele has been dated to the early 6th century BC. It is 0.55 m wide and 1.90 m high and made of limestone. The four holes on the stone functioned as lifting points, assisting in the process of lifting the stele and placing it on the tomb. There is also speculation that the Lion of Menecrates, found near his tomb, may actually belong to the tomb of Arniadas.

There is an ancient inscription on the stele. It is written in boustrophedon, a writing system with text alternating in reading direction in each successive line. The inscription contains four verses written in Homeric hexameter, and it is written vertically.

Σᾶμα τόδε Ἀρνιάδα· χαροπὸς τόνδ᾿ ὤλεσεν Ἄρες / βαρνάμενον παρὰ ναυσὶν ἐπ᾿ Ἀράθθοιο ρhοϝαῖσι, / πολλὸν ἀριστεύ{τ}οντα κατὰ στονόϝεσ(σ)αν ἀϝυτάν.

This is the sign of Arniadas who was destroyed by fiery-eyed Ares fighting close to the ships on [river] Arachthos's flows, greatly excelling in the uproar of the battle that brings…