IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.326. Dedication of an altar

Description: Limestone altar, moulded above and below (w: 0.47 x h: 1.00 x d: 0.35); one of a set of six altars, C.323, C.324, C.325, C.326, C.327, C.328.
Text: Inscribed on one face. Lines 1 and 2 are on the upper moulding, 3 on the face below.
Letters: Probably second century, 0.08; lunate epsilon.

Date: Probably second century

Findspot: Cyrene: Fountain Terrace: Found probably in 1931, collected together, the inscriptions were turned face inwards, near the rock face, beside the Byzantine lime kilns.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: This altar has fallen face downwards into a deep channel and is not accessible to examination.

Interpretive

[τ]ῷ
θεῶν
ἀρ-
ρ̣ή̣-
τῳ̣

Diplomatic

[.]Ω
ΘΕΩΝ
ΑΡ
..
Τ.

1: ? [θε]ῷ SECir, 1961-1962; [τ]ῷ Dobias-Lalou, 2000; [Ἑρ]ῷ Catani, 2007
3: ἀρ[ι]φήτῳ Catani, 2007

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

For the Unspoken of the Gods.

Commentary

All the altars in this set that can be legible contain unusual elements. There is a discussion by Pugliese-Carratelli (1963).

a.l.2 Perhaps [θε]ῷ θεῶν; an inscription from Yarsuvat in Cilicia, θεῷ θεῶν / Διὶ / μεγίστωι JHS (1898) 310 (at PHI 285771, or Macr.Sat. 1.9.16 (available at Penelope) where Janus is described as quasi deorum deum.

b.l.3 The idea of the ἄρρητος θεός and of ἄρρητα τέλεα is especially associated with mystery cults cf. e.g. Eurip. fr. 63 of Κορε or Plut, Περι Ἰσ. καὶ Ὀσ., 25.360f. of Isis, in connection with Ares. αἱ δε Ἀρεως εἰσι πρακτικαι θαλασσομαχοι ἀφηγηται καὶ εὐψυχεις, περὶ ἀρρητα ποιητικαι; but here the explanation might be that there is an easy transition from the selection of one god as the highest to the thought, perhaps originally due to Jewish influence, that his name must not be spoken. For another instance of this in Cyrene - but in a christian context - cf. Synesius, Hymn IV (II) 226, πάτερ ἄγνωστε, πάτερ ἄρρητε, ἄγνωστε νόω, ἄρρητε λόγω, νόος ἐσσί νο/ων, ψυχᾶν ψυχά, φύσις εἰ φυσίων.

Bibliography: SECir, 1961-1962, 156.1, fig 115 (drawing only, from T. XXI, 7-10); Dobias-Lalou, 2000, whence SEG 50.1637; Catani, 2007, 1 whence SEG 57.2018, Dobias-Lalou, Bulletin Épigraphique, 2008.604.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. C.325 and C.326 (Department of Antiquities, D 430)