Macedonian Soldier Stele

[MeinPanzer]

I don't think "letter styles" is a terribly accurate way of dating a stele ( which is the authors method), and since the carving is inevitably worn, I don't think one can be positive that a long-sleeved tunic is worn.

Palaeography actually is a pretty good way to date stelae (or at least, to corroborate their dates with other evidence). There definitely does seem to be a line at the wrist, so I would readily accept that Nikanor wears a long-sleeved tunic.

The helmet on the stele in question here, with it's slight peak/brow, the forehead 'notch' and low comb looks to me like a well-known and common Antigonid type ( see attached - one of two helmets found at Melos), not known before around 275 BC, maybe 250 BC. The 'attic' helmets of Philip and Alexander's day all seem to have had high 'Phrygian' combs ( see Alexander coins and the so-called 'Philip' iron helmet for example)....I would therefore tend to think a later date than the authors.

Yes, such helmets from rich tombs like those from the tomb at Vergina and Marvinci had high crests, but they are unique examples - we find other examples of the type of helmet seen on this stele in 4th c. BC art. One example is painted in the background of the battle scene on the Alexander sarcophagus, for instance. This stele could easily date to c. 300 BC.

However, Greek and Macedonian cavalry don't seem to have adopted shields until Pyrrhus' time, and the time of the Gallic invasion.( after 278 BC).They do not seem to have used 'aspides' but rather the celtic flat circular shield with spine, also apparently adopted in Italy from the celts.....

Both aspides and spined round shields were carried by Antigonid cavalrymen, and Hellenistic cavalrymen in general.

On balance of probability, I would suggest this stele shows a shieldless cavalryman, but I would disagree with the authors over it's dating, and place it (probably)after 275 BC, largely because of the helmet.....and of course given the relative crudity of the carving, one can interpret it a number of ways..... :? ?

I think the suggested dating fits just fine, but it could date to the early years of the 3rd c. BC as well. The lack of shield and long sleeves would fit perfectly within this timeframe.