Hermaic stele
Archaeological museum Messenia, Kalamata
26_2_390_91216_F_300_1
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Hermaic stele
199 BCE – 299 CE
Archaeological museum Messenia, Kalamata
ancient Messene
Height: 2.1 cm
Marble inscribed hermaic stele with a bust of a young man, from ancient Messene. The head, wearing a diadem, and the genitals are plastically rendered. An honorary epigram is inscribed on the front side; it refers to the pictured Armoneikos, son of Ariston of Messene and Ageta of Sparta. Armoneikos’ career is known from inscriptions in Olympia. His mother, Ageta, was a member of the Spartan family of the Memmioi, whose ancestry could be traced back to the Dioskouroi. Similar hermaic stelae depicting Hermes Propylaios were placed at the entrance of Stadia or of Gymnasia and were guiding the passers-by.