Description: A rock-cut chamber (B), whose walls are inscribed; on the east wall M.207,
M.208 and M.209; on the south M.210,
M.211,
M.212 and M.213; on the north wall M.214.
Text: Graffiti on the east wall, to the left of the central niche, below M.207;
roughly forming 2 columns, 1 to the left, 2 to the right; each entry in a different hand
Letters: First-second century: sizes varying; lunate and standard sigma, standard omega.
Date: First to second centuries CE
Findspot: Gebel Akhdar: West of Cyrene:
Wadi Bu Nabeh, Bu Darag.
Original location: Findspot.
Last recorded location:
Findspot.
Apparatus
1.b: Not recorded by Ferri2.a.2: Καδμι Ferri, 1922; Κ.αδμι SEG
2.b.2: Συμμάχο[υ] Ferri, 1922
English translation
Translation by: Charlotte Roueché
(1.a): (i.e. Place?) of Damis, (scil. son) of Pontikos; (1.b): Dionysios; (1.c): Kosbarakos (scil. son) of Malichos, an Idumaean; (2.a): Apollonios (scil. son) of Kozadaios; (2.b): Krateros, (scil. son) of Symmachos, an Idumaean, came here.
Commentary
Two members of this group of graffiti writers claim to be Idumaean (1.c, 2.b) and a third in M.209. Ferri argued that these graffiti are likely to be earlier than CE 70, since the name Idumaeos is not attested after the fall of Jerusalem: 'Auch ‚Idumaea‘ schwindet seitdem als Name aus der Geschichte', G. Beer, PW IX, col. 918 (available at Wikisource). The men were probably merchants rather than soldiers, who would be likely to give their rank and/or unit.
Line 4: Κοσβάρακος, and 2.a. line 2: Κοζαδαῖος:: for Idumaean names with the Kos- prefix see Trismegistos (www.trismegistos.org) s.v.; it likely that these names are derived from Κωζέ who is recorded as an Idumaean god by Josephus, Atiquities XV. 7.9 (available at Perseus)
Bibliography: Pacho, 1827, LXIV.2, with Letronne, p.395-6, whence CIG, Vol.III, 5149; Ferri, 1922, 7β-ε, fig. 19, whence SEG 9.741, SEG 9.742, SEG 9.743, SEG 9.744; see also Ferri, 1923, 10f; 1.c discussed, Robert, 1939a 179-180.
Text constituted from: From previous publications and transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. Transcription (1827, Pacho, plate LXIV)
Fig. 2. Text 1.c (Reynolds IX.79)
Fig. 3. Text 2.b (Reynolds IX.82)