Tomb of Menecrates, Ancient cenotaph in Garitsa Hill, Corfu, Greece.
The Tomb of Menecrates is a cylindrical limestone structure on Garitsa Hill that features five circular rings arranged around its top. The monument has a diameter of approximately 5 meters (16 feet) and reaches a height of about 1.4 meters (4.6 feet).
The structure was built between 570 and 540 BC in ancient Korkyra during the early Archaic period. British forces uncovered it in 1843 while demolishing a Venetian fortress that had occupied the same hilltop.
The inscription on the monument is written in early Corinthian script and honors Menecrates for his role as an ambassador from the city. The text reveals how important such diplomatic missions were to the community.
The tomb sits on Garitsa Hill, where the nearby Archaeological Museum of Corfu displays the lion sculpture discovered during excavation. The location is easy to walk to and offers views over the city and harbor.
The inscription on the monument is one of the oldest surviving texts in Greece and was composed in dactylic hexameter, a form of poetic verse. The text also mentions Praximenes, the brother of Menecrates, providing rare glimpses into the family of this important figure.
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