Terracotta funerary plaque
Unknown Artist
ca. 520–510 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
Overall: 10 1/4 x 14 1/4 x 3/8 in. (26 x 36.2 x 0.9 cm)
Classification
Terracottas
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1954
Accession Number
54.11.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta funerary plaque crafted by an unknown Attic Greek artist 520–510 BCE, offers a poignant glimpse into Archaic Greek mourning rituals. Measuring just over 10 by 14 inches, it depicts a funeral procession, or *ekphora*, featuring, women, horses, chariots—common motifs symbolizing status and the journey to the afterlife. Placed on or near tombs in ancient Athens, such plaques served as memorials, blending artistry with reverence for the deceased. Terracotta, fired clay abundant in Attica, was an ideal medium for these low-relief sculptures, allowing artisans to mold deta...