…Lychon—a member of my own family!—slaughtered me, still in my youth. He threw me from the heights like a discus. I was twenty years old, so full of beauty, when the Moirai spun my fate and sent me as a delight to Hades.”
RIP my dude💔
(Louvre Ma 2867, trans. Chaniotis) pic.twitter.com/xFDMYE7Eaq
— Roko Rumora (@rumorahasit) March 8, 2023
A tombstone looted from ancient Greek city of Alexandria Troas, near Istanbul, is now in the Louvre. It is inscribed with the image of a rather short young man. The epitaph has only recently been translated into English, and we get the rather macabre story from the inscription. Poor Aphrodisios! He was only 20 years old, yet lost his wife and his life to the greed of Lychon, thrown like a Frisbee to his death. The discussion at Metafilter centers around who arranged (and paid) for this gravestone to be carved. If it was commissioned by Lychon, who was after all a relative, he wouldn’t have included the part about the dirty adultress. It could have been Aphrodisios’ parents, which would explain the description of Aphrodisios as “so full of beauty.” All we have left is a mysterious glimpse into an ancient dysfunctional family.
Source: neatorama
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