Description: Outcrop of natural rock, on which texts are cut more or less roughly,
in a series of different hands, with dates ranging from 15/16 to 52 CE: M.3, M.4,
M.5, M.6, M.7, M.8,
M.9, M.10, M.11, M.12,
M.13, M.14, M.15, M.16,
M.17, M.18, M.19, M.20,
M.21, M.22, M.23, M.24,
M.25, M.26, and perhaps M.27. They may be described as graffiti
although the surviving example and the photographs show that their production often involved much
more effort than the normal graffito.
Text: Incised on the surface (w:
1.00),
without a frame. The alignment of the lines is not completely clear.
Letters: L for ἔτους; theta with a central dot; standard sigma. Ligatures: ΑΡ line 1, ΗΚ line 3.
Date: CE 39-40
Findspot: South of Berenike:
Beside the ancient road from Corniclanum/Ajdabia,
leading south to the oasis of Gialo; recorded in 1923.
Original location: Findspot.
Last recorded location:
Now covered by modern houses.
Apparatus
1: Θεο[μν]ᾶς Ἀρ[ιστ]οδή[μ]ω Ferri, 1926 whence SEG2: κεντυρίων [.?]ἠσ[α]υ[ρικ]ὸς Ferri, 1926; κεντυρίων .ησαυκος SEG
English translation
Translation by: Editors
Year 70, Theo[..]as (scil. son) of Aristodemos, a centurion [ . . . ), Ι came here.
Commentary
For general introduction see M.3.
Line 1: the name may be Θεο[μν]ᾶς with the patronymic Ἀρ[ιστ]οδή[μ]ω, most of which is written in higher register than the name; but the layout and the Doric genitive may suggest that Θεο[μν]ᾶς encroached on the graffito of an earlier native whose name is lost.
Bibliography: Ferri, 1926, 16, with drawing, p.381, whence SEG 9.788.
Text constituted from: From previous publications (Reynolds).
Images
None available (2020).