Funerary naiskos of Aristonautes

The funerary naiskos of Aristonautes is a marble sculpture in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens that shows a warrior in a combat stance. The figure wears hoplite armor with a breastplate and helmet, positioned within a small temple structure, with certain sections including the back and right support pilaster having been restored.

The work was created around 320 BC and originally stood near the Dipylon Gate in Kerameikos, the ancient cemetery of Athens. It marked the grave of Aristonautes, son of Archenautes, during a period when Greeks commemorated their most important citizens with such elaborate tomb monuments.

The monument reflects the ancient Greek custom of honoring the dead with elaborate marble works that displayed their rank and military skills. You can observe how Athenians chose to remember their fallen and the importance they placed on showing strength and social standing.

The work is easily accessible to museum visitors and sits in a temperature-controlled environment that protects its structure. Pay attention to the restored sections during your visit to understand how ancient artworks required time and effort to return to their current state.

The warrior holds an unusual stance with legs apart and the right foot stepped forward, while the face turns toward viewers and the body orients left. This arrangement reflects a transition in artistic style between the classical and Hellenistic periods, making the work valuable for tracing changes in how artists portrayed the human form.