Description
| ITEM | Funerary stele with a young grape picker |
| MATERIAL | Limestone |
| CULTURE | Roman |
| PERIOD | 1st – 2nd Century A.D |
| DIMENSIONS | 580 mm x 310 mm x 160 mm |
| CONDITION | Good condition |
| PROVENANCE | Ex French psychiatrist private collection, Paris, acquired between 1960 – 1980 |
Gallic-Roman funerary steles are commemorative monuments dating from the period of Roman Gaul, roughly spanning from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD. These funerary steles were typically used to mark the graves of individuals and pay tribute to the deceased. While the depictions vary depending on the region and the specific time period, some of them include scenes of grape harvesting, which was an important activity in Gallo-Roman agriculture.
In these funerary steles, a grape harvester might be depicted in a posture reflecting grape-picking or transporting grape baskets. These representations can carry symbolic and cultural significance since viticulture was an integral part of the Gallo-Roman economy and daily life. In addition to grape-harvesting scenes, these steles often include commemorative inscriptions that provide information about the deceased individual, their family, and social status.
Gallo-Roman funerary steles are important for understanding the culture and society of Roman Gaul, as they offer insights into religious beliefs, funerary practices, and economic activities of the time.
