Greek marble stelae were examined to find out how the paint had been applied. Earlier authors on the subject had assumed artists had used wax as a medium. The painted stelae showed no signs of priming. The first draft was done in black color directly on the stone by means of a brush. The paint was applied subsequently in several layers, sometimes remarkably thick. A brush was used, not any kind of knife. Tempera, most probably an egg tempera, was the medium used. -- AATA