Support: Fragment of a plain small jug ('olletta') of local ware (w: 0.065 × h: 0.036 × d: 0.01; diameter c. 0.12).

Layout: Incised sinistrorsum before firing, on the lid and belly

Letters: 0.013-0.016; straight iota, four-strikes sigma

Date: Fifth century BC (lettering).

Findspot: Found in 1993 by L. Bacchielli at Cyrene ➚: cave of the Nymphs.

Place of origin: Findspot.

Last recorded location: Cyrene Museum, Storeroom of the Italian missions, SN.93.7. Observed in 1993 by A. Santucci at Shahat: Storeroom of the Italian missions. Not seen by IGCyr team.

Text constituted from: Transcription from editors.

Apparatus

French translation

Intraduisible.

English translation

Not usefully translatable.

Italian translation

Intraducibile.

Arabic translation

غير قابل للترجمة بشكل جيد.

Commentary

The first edition of this sherd was based upon the unpublished thesis of Carla Lazari (University of Padova, 1952-1953), completed by Anna Santucci, who updated the bibliography and commentary about the script. Unfortunately, the references given to a so-called 'three-strokes sigma' are out of place, as the compared items are all three-strokes iotas, but for one vase-inscription painted in Attica. This isolated piece of local ware is probably difficult to date and it seems that the date (VI century) given in the publication is only based upon the script.

In fact, the photograph shows clearly a four-strokes sigma, which also indicates the retrograd direction of the inscription. The third letter might be either iota or part of a mu. The straight iota and the use of sigma forbid to date the script before ca. 600.

Moreover, a tentative restoration [Νυμφα]ῖσι, proposed by Micheli and Santucci in Gill – Santucci – Uhlenbrock 2000, p. 128 is impossible on behalf of the dialect. Beginning with Ἰσμ- we know only of mythical or geographical names, which might produce a personal name. If Ισι- should be read, an interpretation seems even more obscure. Non liquet.

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Images

Fig. 1. Drawing of igcyr089500 Unclear

Maps