AIUK46 no. 23 Grave stele of Choirine

Grave stele of Choirine

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 23 Date: ca. 375-350 BC

Choirine. (relief)^[1]

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Greek text

References:

AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments) no. 23 (Translated text) (AIUK) (AIO)

IG II² 13062 (PHI)

Clairmont, CAT 1.350a

Scholl, Bildfeldstelen no. 520

Translation by: Robert Pitt

AIO Images: 1

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Funerary

Findspot: Acquired at Eleusis in 1819 (BM 2007,5001.1)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This stele was acquired in Eleusis in 1819 by the French Rear Admiral E. Halgan (1771-1852), becoming part of the collection of Francois Lenormant. In more recent decades it passed through the Swiss and London markets and was purchased by the British Museum in 2007. Choirine stands facing to her left in a sleeved chiton, peplos, and himation, wearing slippers and holding a large temple key in her right hand, signifying her role as a priestess. Her clenched left hand points forward in a gesture often encountered in votive reliefs showing devotees approaching a god, perhaps clutching a small incense box. The temple key was a symbol of office for a priestess, representing her function as custodian of the sanctuary (in contrast to a male priest, conventionally depicted holding a sacrificial knife). The findspot of this gravestone in Eleusis has led to the suggestion that Choirine was a priestess of Demeter and Kore, and her name (choiros = "piglet") may not be coincidental, since the piglet was an important sacrificial animal at Eleusis. The rather modest gravestone may, however, suggest that she did not hold the (very prominent) priesthood of Demeter and Kore, but was priestess of one of the other gods worshipped at the sanctuary (other priestesses at Eleusis are implied by I Eleusis 229, ll. 10 and 37; I Eleusis 175, ll. 15-16). For more detailed discussion of the inscription see AIUK 4.6 (BM, Funerary Monuments), no. 23.

Added: 6 Apr 2022
Updated: 6 Apr 2022
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