A stele, or occasionally stela, when derived from Latin, is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected in the ancient world as a monument. The surface of the stele often has text, ornamentation, or both. These may be inscribed, carved in relief, or painted. Stelae were created for many reasons.

What does stele mean in history?

A stela is an upright monument containing information in the form of texts, images or a combination of the two. Stelae have been used to commemorate people or events, to delineate physical spaces or as objects through which to access the dead or divine.

What does stele mean in Greek?

stela, also spelled stele (Greek: “shaft” or “pillar”), plural stelae, standing stone slab used in the ancient world primarily as a grave marker but also for dedication, commemoration, and demarcation.