Description: Lower part of a sandstone
stele, damaged also at the right side
(w:
0.19 x h:
0.20 x d:
0.06-0.08).
Text: Inscribed on the base (surviving w:
0.145 x h:
0.045);
above the text was a sunken panel containing relief sculpture which included a boat carrying several figures (Charon and passengers?).
Letters: 0.03; probably L for ἐτῶν, with a superscript bar above.
Date: First to third centuries CE
Findspot:
Berenike,
Sidi Hussein: B.47, B.49,
in a group of rock-cut tombs excavated in 1973/4
by the Archaeology Department of the University of Benghazi. The stele
was found in the debris of the stairway leading to the tomb and was presumably displayed outside the tomb.
Original location: Findspot
Last recorded location:
Benghazi Museum.
English translation
Translation by: Editors
Luka aged . . .
Commentary
The siglum L is largely lost and the figure for the age entirely so. The name suggests the Jewish Luke but might be a Greek feminine.
For two further inscriptions found in this group of rock-cut tombs, see B.47 and B.49.
Bibliography: Reynolds, 1978, 22.ii, whence SEG 28.1546; Ghazal, 1976-1977, 230, and pl. 63b.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
None available (2020).