IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.421. Dedication of cult statue of Zeus

Description: Some 62 fragments of a marble cornice (original width: c. 8.29). All show signs of burning and are now very fragile. Some fragments have been lost or damaged since discovery.
Text: Inscribed in one line on the cyma; the inscription must have contained approximately 270 letters.
Letters: Second century CE; 0.035, with apices; deeply cut, to a depth of 0.005.

Date: CE 185-192

Findspot: Cyrene: Temple of Zeus: in the altar. Found between 1939 and 1942. Some pieces have been damaged since discovery.
Original location: Temple of Zeus: on the front base of the cult statue.
Last recorded location: Cyrene Museum

Interpretive

a
ὑπὲρ τᾶς Αὐτοκράτορος Καίσαρος Μ(άρκω) Αὐρηλίω Κομ̣[μόδω Ἀν]των̣[ε]ί̣νω Εὐσε[βοῦς] Εὐτυ[χοῦς] Σεβαστῶ σ[ω]τ̣ηρί[ας καὶ νείκας? καὶ αἰωνίας δια]μονᾶ[ς ---]Σ τὸ ἄγ̣[α]λ̣μα τῶ Διὸς Σ̣[---] ἐκ τῶν̣ ἰδί[ων τᾶι γλυ]κυτάται πατρ[ίδι? ἔδω?]κεν κ[αὶ] ἀν[έθηκε]ν
b
[--- Μένα?]νδρος Κ[---]
c
[---] Τι(βερι)- Κλ(αυδι)[---]
d
[---] Κλ(αυδία)- Φ[αυ]ν̣ίλλα Α [---]
e
[---] Κλ(αυδι)- Ἰασον[---]
f
[---]ΟΙΚΛ[---]
g
[---]ΝΑΑ[---]
h
[---]ΟΝ[---]
i
[---]Σ̣ΥΝ[---]
j
[---]ΑΣΙΝ[---]
k
[---]ΗΝ[---]
l
[---]Τ̣ΟΙΠ̣[---]

Diplomatic

a
ΥΠΕΡΤΑΣΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣΜΑΥΡΗΛΙΩΚΟ.[......]ΤΩ.[.].ΝΩΕΥΣΕ[....]ΕΥΤΥ[....]ΣΕΒΑΣΤΩΣ[.].ΗΡΙ[........................]ΜΟΝΑ[.---]ΣΤΟΑ.[.].ΜΑΤΩΔΙΟΣ.[---]ΕΚΤΩ.ΙΔΙ[........]ΚΥΤΑΤΑΙΠΑΤΡ[......]ΚΕΝΚ[..]ΑΝ[.....]Ν
b
[---....]ΝΔΡΟΣΚ[---]
c
[---]ΤΙΚΛ[---]
d
[---]ΚΛΦ[..].ΙΛΛΑΑ[---]
e
[---]ΚΛΙΑΣΟΝ[---]
f
[---]ΟΙΚΛ[---]
g
[---]ΝΑΑ[---]
h
[---]ΟΝ[---]
i
[---].ΥΝ[---]
j
[---]ΑΣΙΝ[---]
k
[---]ΗΝ[---]
l
[---].ΟΙ.[---]

Apparatus

a+i: On the basis of fragment i, reading ΣΥΝ, Pesce proposed to insert the formula καὶ ἱερᾶς συνκλητῶ καὶ δάμω Ῥωμαίων; we believe that this lengthens the line unduly. Pesce, 1951
a: Pesce proposed Διὸς Σ[ω]τηρί[ω] using here the fragment Σ[ . . ΤΗΡΙ which we have interpreted as part of σ[ωτηρί]ας Pesce, 1951
i.+.j.+.k.+.l: Perhaps, after Διὸς, σὺν τ̣οῖ π̣[ερὶ τ]ὴν [β]άσιν [κόσμοι . . .

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

On behalf of the safety [and victory and eternal] permanence of the Emperor Caesar M(arcus) Aurelius Com[modus An]toninus Pius Felix Augustus [? so-and-so gave] and dedicated the statue of Zeus S[- ] from his own resources to his sweetest fatherland.

Commentary

The date is between 185 when Commodus became Felix, and his death in 192.

b. The nominative must denote the donor and/or dedicator. The following Κ has no superscript bar and is not therefore part of Κλ(αύδιος), but may well be the initial of the patronymic, or from καί.

c. might be the praenomen and nomen of the person named in b.

e. Perhaps Tiberius Claudius Jason Magnus priest of Apollo between 176 and 180, possibly mentioned here as the eponymous of the year.

Bibliography: Pesce, 1951, 6, pp. 92-93 nd fig. 4, whence AE 1954.42, Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1953.251; republished Goodchild-Reynolds-Herington, 1958, B, pp. 34-35, whence SEG 17.802, PHI 324415, AE 1960.261; mentioned Kenrick, 2013, 223.
Text constituted from: Transcription from fragments and from pre-war photographs (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. Fragment a: opening (Department of Antiquities F.3778)

   Fig. 2. Fragments from a, e, h (Department of Antiquities F.3776)

   Fig. 3. Fragments from a, b, d, g, i, j, k, l and others (Department of Antiquities F.3779)

   Fig. 4. Fragments from a, f (Department of Antiquities F.3777)


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