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Inscriptions of Greek Cyrenaica | Greek Verse Inscriptions of Cyrenaica

Epitaph

EpiDoc XML: IGCyr0099002
Trismegistos ID: 105902

Source description

Support: Lid of rock-cut sarcophagus, limestone (dimensions not recorded).

Layout: a) Roughly cut on slope of lid; b) deeply cut in good letters on the upper plinth of the lid.

Letters: ca. 0.05.

Date: Fifth to third centuries BC (lettering).

Findspot: First copied by H.F. De Cou of the Norton mission in 1911 at Cyrene: North Necropolis, tomb N 22.

Place of origin: Findspot.

Last recorded location: Seen by the Thorns before 2006 in situ, in the North Necropolis. Not seen by IGCyr team.

Text constituted from: Transcription from editor.

Bibliography

Robinson 1913, n. 26, without illustration, whence Sammelbuch 5880; Cassels 1955, p. 10, n. 11; Marengo 1991, p. 33; Thorn – Thorn 2009, p. 31; IGCyr 009900 .

Text

Interpretive

A
Ἀγ̣α̣θ̣ίνα
B
hιπ<π>οσ[---]

Diplomatic

A
Α...ΙΝΑ
B
HΙΠΟΣ[---]

Apparatus

A.1: Ἀγ̣α̣θ̣ίνα: Ἄπλοινα Robinson 1913
B.1: hιπ<π>οσ[---]: HΙΠΟΣ Robinson 1913; hιπποσ[---] Sammelbuch reading Keil

translation

A: Agathina.

B: Hippos[---].

translation

A: Agathina.

B: Hippos[---].

translation

A: Agathina.

B: Hippos[---].

commentary

Dorothy Thorn's photograph shows A still readable, because it remained covered by earth, whereas B, exposed to the air since at least 1911, can hardly be traced on the photograph. However, it is clear that only one pi was cut, which as such gives no sense in Greek. The use of the letter H for the initial aspiration and of only one letter for a double stop are two clues for an archaic lettering. Section B would thus be earlier than A.

A : The unknown name Ἄπλοινα was already rejected as doubtful both in Fraser – Matthews 1987 and by Marengo. The Thorns were not aware of those doubts.

B : Keil thought of Ἱππόσ[τρατος], but Ἱπποσ[θένης] would be another possibility. Anyhow, there was probably no room for so long names on the plinth. Either it was cut on on the other sides of the plinth or the name was abbreviated.

French translation

A: Agathina.

B: Hippos[---].

English translation

A: Agathina.

B: Hippos[---].

Italian translation

A: Agathina.

B: Hippos[---].

Arabic translation

أ: أجاثينا. ب: هيبوس [---].

Commentary

Dorothy Thorn's photograph shows A still readable, because it remained covered by earth, whereas B, exposed to the air since at least 1911, can hardly be traced on the photograph. However, it is clear that only one pi was cut, which as such gives no sense in Greek. The use of the letter H for the initial aspiration and of only one letter for a double stop are two clues for an archaic lettering. Section B would thus be earlier than A.

A : The unknown name Ἄπλοινα was already rejected as doubtful both in Fraser – Matthews 1987 and by Marengo. The Thorns were not aware of those doubts.

B : Keil thought of Ἱππόσ[τρατος], but Ἱπποσ[θένης] would be another possibility. Anyhow, there was probably no room for so long names on the plinth. Either it was cut on on the other sides of the plinth or the name was abbreviated.

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Maps

Cyrene general plan

image

Cyrene north necropolis

image