It was intended to mark his grave and honour his memory by enumerating his bravery in a battle near the river Arachthos in the location of ancient Ambracia, modern-day Arta.

The stele bears an epigram written vertically in verses following an alternating direction writing style called boustrophedon.

[6] The inscription reads as follows:[1][2][6][7] Σᾶμα τόδε Ἀρνιάδα· χαροπὸς τόνδ᾿ ὤλεσεν Ἄρες / βαρνάμενον παρὰ ναυσὶν ἐπ᾿ Ἀράθθοιο ρhοϝαῖσι, / πολλὸν ἀριστεύ{τ}οντα κατὰ στονόϝεσ(σ)αν ἀϝυτάν.

The ancient inscription translates as:[5][8] This is the sign of Arniadas who was destroyed by fiery-eyed Ares fighting close to the ships on [river] Arachthos's flows, greatly excelling in the uproar of the battle that brings lament.Scholars have analysed the epigram and have found clear Homeric influence.

Hans-Martin Lumpp is considered the first scholar to suggest that Arniadas's epigram was directly related to Hector's words in the Iliad.

Arniadas's death appears heroic since he was slain by Ares himself, the god of war, while Menecrates was simply lost at sea.

[8] The inscription is described as having a "grand epic style" which "all but transports [Arniadas] to the Island of the Blessed", without providing any details of the dead warrior's life before he died fighting.