Fragmentary marble grave stele of a hoplite (foot soldier) 510 BC

This fragment of a marble grave stele, created by Aristokles in 510 BC, depicts the foot of a hoplite, or Greek foot soldier. The stele, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, likely commemorated a fallen warrior, as was common in ancient Greece. The simple, yet powerful, depiction of the foot, clad in a boot and resting on a base, captures the strength and determination of the hoplite, a symbol of ancient Greek military prowess.