Description: Cylindrical plain base of white marble; on top, the beginning of a smaller
circular element is partially preserved in the middle and two holes for attachment, one still full of metal, face one another
diametrically
(h:
0.56 x diam.:
0.30).
Text: Inscribed on one half of the outer surface
Letters: 0.045 to 0.05, very carefully cut with small serifs; lunar epsilon mu, sigma, omega; alpha with broken bar, pi with equal
hastae and upper bar protruding on both sides.
Date: probably second half of second century or third century AD
Findspot:
Gebel Akhdar: West of Cyrene:
Balagrae:
no findspot reported.
Original location: Findspot
Last recorded location:
Seen by Dobias-Lalou in 1979 outside Casa Paris, in 1997 in the courtyard of the new Museum, both places
belonging to Cyrene Museum.
English translation
Translation by: Charlotte Roueché
For Methysis, Minerva, Iatros, Iaso, gods who listen, I Kl(audios) (i.e. Cl(audius)) Lykos dedicated (scil. this in fulfilment of) a vow
French translation
Translation source: Dobias-Lalou, 2000
À Methysis, Minerve, Iatros et Iasô, divinités bienveillantes, moi Klaudios Lykos, j'ai consacré (ce monument) en accomplissement d'un voeu.
Commentary
For other texts associating Iatros and Iaso see C.228, M.185, C.756, M.189, M.191, and Dobias-Lalou, loc.cit. Iatros is the name of Asklepios in the sanctuary of Balagrae and in the city of Cyrene (see in the fourth century BCE igcyr011600). In the other dedications he is associated with his daughter Iaso, mostly without καί. This is the only inscription where the pair is associated with Methysis (Inebriation), usually a dangerous entity, and the Roman goddess Minerva, who is more usually considered a benevolent deity. For further comments see Marengo, loc. cit.
As pointed by Marengo, Μεθύσι stands for Μεθύσει because of iotacism. This ending might have served as a model for the dative Μινέρβι, translating the Latin name Minerva.
Line 4: ἐπήκοος 'listening to prayers' is used for benevolent or saviour gods.
Bibliography: Mentioned SECir, 1961-1962 note on 165, p. 316; lines 3-6 published Dobias-Lalou, 1993, 5, p. 34, (no image), whence SEG 43.1191; discussed Dobias-Lalou, 2000, a, p. 225; complete text published by Marengo, 2003, whence Dobias-Lalou, Bulletin Épigraphique, 2004.453, SEG 53.2052.
Text constituted from: Transcription from stone (CDL)
Images
Fig. 1. View (Reynolds III.64)
Fig. 2. Face, left side (Reynolds IX.6)
Fig. 3. Face, right side (Reynolds IX.7)