Seikilos Stele Inscription

Dossier in brief

Place, time and memory in one narrative.

The Seikilos stele preserves a name, a short poem, and musical notation together. Different century-level dates in the museum record support a broad first- or second-century CE placement.

Historical event · 1st–2nd centuries CE · Culture and memory · A link to today · deniz-doga

A name, poem and notation on one inscription

The Seikilos stele brings a name, a short poem, and musical notation together on one inscribed surface. The National Museum of Denmark describes twelve lines: the first five mention Seikilos, while the remaining seven hold a poem with musical signs written as letters and symbols. Words and notation survive as parts of the same object.

Two different century-level dates

The museum’s description places the stele in the first century CE, while its separate dating field gives the second century. A broad first- or second-century placement keeps both indications in view without assigning an exact year. The museum also records earlier musical notation: two stone fragments from Delphi, dated to around 127 BCE, precede the Seikilos stele.

The museum’s online object record

The National Museum of Denmark’s online catalogue lists the stele as object 14897. The entry presents its poem and musical signs together, so readers can follow the inscription as a single surviving object.

A poem and melody preserved side by side

The inscription says little about Seikilos himself, and the museum says his identity and role remain unknown. What endures is the unusual pairing of a short poem and written musical signs. That surviving combination offers a glimpse of how words and melody could share one ancient inscription. A related Seikilos inscription entry offers a further reading on the poem and notation.

Periods

Roman era