Description: Marble base with reliefs of drivers in quadrigae on all four faces
(w:
0.64 x h:
0.57 x d:
0.64). There are informal inscriptions on two faces,
C.123 and C.124
Text: (i)Graffito above the relief;
(ii) inscribed on the necks of the horses.
Letters: Augustan, varying from 0.015 to 0.04; L for ἔτους; two different hands. i: The patronymics are written in small letters within
and between the letters of the names. ii: The letters on the necks of the horses are carefully cut, not in the usual graffito
of informal texts.
Date: Augustan
Findspot:
Cyrene;
Temple of Apollo Archegetes; observed in 1861 and 1904,
found again during excavation in 1917.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location:
Cyrene Museum
English translation
Translation by: Editors
Year 13. Of Damis (scil. son) of Lygdamis
Year 13. Of Philippos (scil. son) of Philippos
Commentary
Hamilton described what appears to be this base; he records that there was 'on one side a votive inscription', which was defaced when he next saw it.
i: Pugliese-Carratelli noted the writing within and between the letters of the main text, but did not identify them as patronymics. For the patronymic written in this way, typical of ephebic inscriptions, cf. C.61, C.123, C.124, and many examples at Ptolemais: P.2, P.11, P.13, P.14, P.69, P.91, P.124, P.133, P.134, P.178, P.182, P.185, P.190, and compare P.200.
ii: Perhaps abbreviations of names for the horses? The more formal lettering may suggest that these were original to the monument.
Bibliography: Described, Hamilton, 1856, 45, recorded in a lost painting by Porcher (1861), Thorn, 2007, 199; photographed Hogarth, 1905, 94, 98; texts published Oliverio, 1940, 412; SECir, 1961-1962, 198, partial publication, from a drawing (T.XIII 7).
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
_002 "Face (Reynolds XII.23)")
Fig. 1. Face (Reynolds XII.23)