στήλη στήλη, Doric στάλα, ἡ, στέλλω a block of stone used as a prop or buttress to a wall, Il.: a block of rockcrystal, in which the Egyptian mummies were cased, Hdt. a block or slab, bearing an inscription; and so, a gravestone, Hom., Attic a block or slab, inscribed with record of victories, dedications, treaties, decrees, etc., Hdt., Attic; γράφειν τινὰ εἰς στήλην, ἀναγράφειν ἐν στήλῃ, whether for honour, or for infamy, Hdt., Dem.:—also the record itself, a contract, agreement, κατὰ τὴν στήλην according to agreement, Ar.; στῆλαι αἱ πρὸς Θηβαίους Dem. a boundary post, Xen.:— the turning-post at the end of the racecourse, Lat. meta, Soph., Xen. for Στῆλαι Ἡρακλήιαι, v. Ἡράκλειος.