The marble stele from the 3rd century BC is inscribed with an honorary decree for Alketas, king of the Molossoi tribe in Epirus. Standing at a height of approximately 1.42 meters, it represents common practices from the era with a carving technique using Pentelic style.
The honorary decree highlights the contributions and leadership of Alketas, distributed across sixty lines of hieratic script. Signs of minor damage, including small chips and weathering, do not greatly impact legibility, thus allowing for interpretation and insight into the historical setting and the noted achievements of the time.
The inscription serves to facilitate understanding of the sociopolitical interactions and obligations between King Alketas and the Molossoi tribe. Furthermore, it indirectly provides information about the period's architectural, legal, and administrative framework, making it an important historical reference.
Aesthetically, a simple floral motif adorns the right and left edges of the inscription, which is indicative of artistic traditions from the period and speaks to the high level of skill amongst Greek craftspersons of the time.
The top of the stele contains a relief that illustrates a ceremonial scene: a representative of the Molossoi tribe presenting an olive wreath to King Alketas. Despite noticeable erosion, this depiction gives a sense of the ceremony's gravity and provides valuable insight into the era's customs and procedures surrounding the awarding of such honors.
