IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.283. Fragmentary building inscription from the temple of Artemis

Description: Limestone block with moulding above, from a Doric entablature, broken in two and damaged at the lower right corner (w: 1.03 x h: 0.59 x d: 0.44).
Text: Inscribed on one face.
Letters: Second century: 0.07; ligature in line 2

Date: CE 117-138

Findspot: Cyrene: Temple of Artemis; recorded in 1861 in 'ruins to the north of the Temple of Apollo'
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: Temple of Artemis: standing on the wall to the right of the entrance.

Interpretive

[ὑπὲρ τᾶς Αὐτοκράτορος Τ]ραιανῶι Ἁδριανῶ[ι Καίσαρος Σεβαστῶι σωτηρίας?]
[ὁ δεῖνα τοῦ δεῖνας τὸν? να]ὸν σὺν το͂ι προν[άωι κατεσκεύασεν ἐκ τᾶν τῶ Ἀπόλλωνος?]
[προσόδαν ἀφιερώσαντο]ς ( vac. 1) Φλ(αβίωι) ( vac. 2) Φαυ̣[---].

Diplomatic

[....................]ΡΑΙΑΝΩΙΑΔΡΙΑΝΩ[.........................]
[....................]ΟΝΣΥΝΤΟΙΠΡΟΝ[...............................]
[...................]Σ  ΦΛ    ΦΑ.[---]

Apparatus

1: σωτηρίας Ferri suggested ὑγείας καὶ διαμονᾶς]
2: [ἁ πόλις τὸν τᾶς Ἀρτάμιτος να]ὸν συν τοῖ προν[άωι κατεσκεύασεν ἐκ τῶν τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος προσόδων ; [ἀφειρωσαίσα]ς Φλ(αβίας) Φαυ[νιλλας]

English translation

Translation by: Editors

[On behalf of the security of Emperor] Trajan Hadrian [ Caesar Augustus. X, son of Y, built the] temple with the entry hall, [from the funds of Apollo; the dedication] was made by Flavius Fau[- . . .

Commentary

Smith and Porcher's description can hardly refer to anything but the Temple of Artemis, although Applebaum has pointed out that the identification is inferential only. For the temple building, see Pernier, 1931.

line 1 Ferri's reconstruction, reproduced in SEG, involves some points which can hardly be accepted in the light of the increasing number of dedicatory inscriptions known from Cyrene - that the building was constructed by the city out of Apollo's funds and dedicated by a priestess: in fact Apollo's funds were controlled by his priests and in the sanctuary all other dedications known were made either by a priest of Apollo or by a Roman official.

Bibliography: Smith-Porcher, 1864, 33, p.117, whence IGRR, I.1038; Ferri, 1923 5ff Fig. 4, from which SEG 9.171, PHI 324022; discussed by Applebaum, 1950, A.2, page 88, Boatwright, 2000, 179.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds)

Images

   Fig. 1. Face (Reynolds VI.88)

   Fig. 2. View (1961, Joyce Reynolds II.89)