Description: Limestone stele, with a roughly moulded top
(w:
0.48 x h:
0.92 x d:
0.31).
Text: Inscribed on one face within a rectangle defined by an incised line.
Letters: The letters are quite competently cut, uneven in size (0.05-0.07) with lunate epsilon, sigma and omega and the cross bar of
alpha so shaped as to recall chi. There are superscript bars above the abbreviations, and possible indication of the aspirate
in lines 1, 4.
Date: Sixth century CE, but an earlier date is not precluded
Findspot:
Gebel Akhdar: East of Cyrene: in the hill-top site of
Sidi (Siret) Akreim;
found in 1995.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location:
Findspot
English translation
Translation source: Reynolds-Ward-Perkins-Goodchild, 2003
Property of the holy Menas. Lord God help (scil. us)
Commentary
This appears to define ecclesiastical property, presumably belonging to a church or monastery dedicated to Saint Menas. This is the first evvidence for his cult in Cyrenaica
For territorial disputes between Christian institutions Dobias-Lalou, art. cit., cites Synesios, Ep.66, l.216 (available in translation at Livius)
Bibliography: Mohamed-Reynolds, 2000, 1, 1488-90, whence SEG 50.1648; Reynolds-Ward-Perkins-Goodchild, 2003, 407, whence SEG 53.2065, whence Dobias-Lalou, Bulletin Épigraphique, 2004.455.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
None available (2020).