Hellenistic and Roman Period Grave Stelai from Sinop Museum

Studies conducted on the Late Archaic period artifacts of the Eastern-Ion Art show that even though there is a valid periodical style in the all Eastern Greece regions in the Archaic period, regional characteristics are clearly seen in different centers of art. Nevertheless, impact of Ionic sculpture schools from the Late Archaic period in Anatolia is clearly observed. Destruction of the city of Miletus, which was at a central position of cultural circle of the Eastern-Greek Anatolia, by Persians also ended Ion art. Nonetheless, Miletus-based sculpture schools survived in northern regions of the Eastern-Greek world such as Propontis, Thasos, Thrace, Macedonia and Pontus. Sinop stelai, which were covered in this study, are examples where influence of Ion sculpture schools is clearly seen and they are also the most significant evidences that gravestones tradition in Attica also survived in the Greek regions of Anatolia, particularly in Sinop, which were colonies of Miletus. The stelai that are the subject of this study are examples on which these impacts could be followed most clearly. In this context, the aim of this study is to date the stelai by comparing it to the similar ones and based on the stylistic and typological examination of the figures on it