A.block of stone used as a prop or buttress to a wall, “στήλας τε προβλῆτας ἐμόχλεον” Il.12.259; block of rock-crystal, in which the Ethiopian mummies were cased, Hdt.3.24: generally, block or base, “κόρη χρυσῆ ἐπὶ στήλης” IG12.256.5; “μεταξὺ τοῦ κίονος καὶ τῆς ς. ἐφ᾽ ᾗ ἐστιν ὁ στρατηγὸς ὁ χαλκοῦς” And.1.38, cf. Thphr.Lap.25; ς. ξύλιναι, λέβητε ἀπὸ στηλῶν, IG12.314.130,133.
II. block or slab used as a memorial, monument:
1. gravestone, Il.11.371, 16.457, Od.12.14, Hippon.15, Simon.183; “ὥς τε ς. μένει ἔμπεδον, ἥ τ᾽ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ ἑστήκῃ” Il.17.434; “ὥς τε στήλην ἀτρέμας ἑσταότα” 13.437; “στῆλαι ἀπὸ σημάτων” Th.1.93; “οὐ στηλῶν μόνον . . ἐπιγραφή” Id.2.43; “μήτε στήλαις μήτε ὀνόμασι δηλοῦντας τοὺς τάφους” Pl.Lg.873d; στάλαν θέμεν Παρίου λίθου λευκοτέραν (metaph. of a poet) Pi.N.4.81.
2. monument inscribed with record of victories, dedications, votes of thanks, treaties, laws, decrees, etc., Hdt.2.102,106, 4.87, Ar.Ach.727, Th.5.56; στήλη λιθίνη, χαλκῆ, ib.47, IG12.13.18; τί βεβούλευται περὶ τῶν σπονδῶν ἐν τῇ ς. παραγράψαι; Ar.Lys.513; τὰς θυσίας τὰς ἐκ τῶν κύρβεων καὶ τῶν ς. Lys.30.17, cf. And.1.96, 3.34; ἐν στήλῃ ἀναγραφῆναι, whether for honour, as in Hdt.6.14; or for infamy, as in And.1.51, cf. D.9.41, etc. (cf. στηλίτης, στηλιτεύω):—also the record itself, contract, agreement, “στήλας ἀναγράψαι” Lys.30.21; κατὰ τὴν ς. according to the agreement, Ar.Av.1051; “ς. αἱ πρὸς Θηβαίους” D.16.27; “μάτην ἐν ταῖς ς. ἐστίν” Isoc.4.176; “τῆς ς. τὰ ἀντίγραφα” D.20.127; παραβῆναι τὰς ς. Plb.24.8.4.