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Secondary sourceArtifact1892

Tomb of Aristotle Excavation Engraving

W. Taber · 1892

An 1892 magazine engraving showing an excavation at Eretria claimed to be the tomb of Aristotle.

Shows the 19th-century search for Aristotle's physical remains, reflecting his enduring fame long after his death.

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Engraving of an excavation trench with stone blocks and a tomb opening. Three men stand or sit within and beside the trench; one wears a pith helmet and sits on the upper edge, one holds a round hat and stands in the trench, and one sits on a stone block holding a cane. Caption below reads: The Tomb of Aristotle at the Angle, together with the Tomb of Biote, both within the Family Inclosure. Drawn by W. Taber.
W. Taber, The Tomb of Aristotle at the Angle, 1892. The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine.

About this source

What it is

This engraving, drawn by W. Taber, appeared in The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine in 1892. It shows an excavation trench with stone blocks and a tomb opening, with three men standing or sitting around it, documenting a dig by the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.

Why it matters

The excavation at Eretria was claimed by its 19th-century excavators to have uncovered Aristotle's tomb. The image shows how scholars and archaeologists of that era searched for physical traces of ancient philosophers, reflecting the era's enthusiasm for connecting classical texts to tangible sites.

Look closer

  • What clues in the image show this is a scientific excavation rather than casual digging?
  • Why might 19th-century Americans have been eager to find Aristotle's tomb?
  • What does the caption claim, and how might that claim be questioned today?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Aristotle on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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