stela

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Object Type
Museum number: 125117
Description: Limestone votive stela; decoration in low flat relief; in pediment is a 12 petalled rosette in a disk; 4 line neo-Punic inscription; symbol of the goddess Tanit is flanked by caducei; above them are astral symbols.
Cultures/periods
Production date: 2ndC BC-1stC BC
Excavator/field collector: Excavated by: Nathan Davis; Excavated by: Sir Thomas Reade
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Carthage (?)
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 80 centimetres; Length: 30.50 inches; Weight: 48 kilograms; Width: 38 centimetres; Width: 15.50 inches; Depth: 9 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: "Treasures of the World's Cultures: The British Museum after 250 Years" catalogue entry (ANE35) Stela with dedication to Baal North Africa (modern Tunisia), Neo-Punic, 2nd-1st century BC From Carthage Limestone H75, W38 cm ANE 125117 C Mendleson, Catalogue of the Punic Stelae in the British Museum. Occasional Paper 98. (London, The British Museum, 2003), p. 37 J N Tubb, Canaanites (London, The British Museum Press, 1998), p. 140, fig. 98 This stela, dedicated by Gaius Julius Arish, son of Adon-Baal, comes from a religious precinct known as the tophet at Carthage. In this enclosure such grave markers were set up over burial urns containing the cremated bodies of babies, small children and animals, which had been placed in the protection of the goddess Tanit and her consort Baal Hammon. The Punic (Carthaginian) script is almost identical to that of Canaanite inscriptions from the Levant. Despite the classical influence seen in the caduceii (curled snakes), the symbolism is Canaanite, with two representations of the goddess Tanit. The upper one is composed of a sun disc, a crescent moon and triangle. Below is an anthropomorphized (human-shaped) version of the goddess.
Bibliographic references: Mendelson C 1999 / Manuscript catalogue of Punic stelae in the BM (NPu2); Mendleson C 1995a / Punic stelae in the British Museum (pp.260-63, fig.9); Tubb 1998a / The Canaanites (p.140, fig.98); Treasures 2009 / Treasures, The World's Cultures from the British Museum (p.29)
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 2014 - 2015 27 Nov - 10 May, Leiden, Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, 'Carthage' 2009 11 Dec-2010 10 May, Madrid, Canal de Isabel II, Treasures of the World’s Cultures 2009 1 May-20 Sep, Victoria, Royal BC Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2007 14 Sep-2 Dec, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2007 3 Feb-27 May, Taipei, National Palace Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2006 18 Mar-4 Jun, Beijing, Capital Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2005 27 Oct-2006 31 Jan, Haengso Museum, Keimyung University, Daegu, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2005 25 Jul-8 Oct, Busan Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2005 11 Apr-10 Jul, Seoul Arts Centre, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2004 26 Jun-29 Aug, Niigata Bandaijima Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2004 10 Apr-13 Jun, Fukuoka Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2004 17 Jan-28 Mar, Kobe City Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2003 18 Oct-14 Dec, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
Condition: Base of object has been filled to create a flat surface; numerous small scratches and chips to surfaces (noted 18/12/06).
Subjects
Associated names: Named in inscription: Baal; Emblem of: Tanit; Named in inscription: Adon-Baal (father)
Funder name
Acquisition date: 1857
Department: Middle East
BM/Big number: 125117
Registration number: 1857,1218.44
Additional IDs: Miscellaneous number: 116 (exhibition number); Miscellaneous number: 504 (exhibition number)
Conservation: Treatment: 09 Feb 2005; Treatment: 12 Aug 2003

Free entry

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