IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

P.235. Funerary inscription

Description: Rock-cut tomb, to the left of P.237.
Text: Inscribed on the façade above the door; above the inscription are three deep niches, apparently for the insertion of stelae
Letters: Probably first century CE; 0.13, lunate sigma; in line 1 the final letters written as sigma within omicron.

Date: Probably first century CE

Findspot: Ptolemais: Quarry I.b.i, south wall; first recorded in 1825.
Original location: Findspot.
Last recorded location: Findspot.

Interpretive

Βασσάραϲ Καίϲαροϲ
( vac. ) δούληϲ ( vac. )

Diplomatic

ΒΑΣΣΑΡΑϹΚΑΙϹΑΡΟϹ
          ΔΟΥΛΗϹ        

Apparatus

1: Pacho omitted the final sigma, which is written within the omicron; Norton reported it.

German translation

Translation source: Lüderitz-Reynolds, 1983

Bassara, Cäsars Sklavin

English translation

Translation by: Editors

(scil. Tomb of) Bassara, slave of Caesar.

Commentary

The name might be Jewish

This implies the presence of an imperial office at Ptolemais, cf. also P.49; see further Struffolino, loc.cit.

Bibliography: Pacho, 1827 LXXVIII (printed as LXXIX), whence CIG, Vol.III, 5194; Masson-Reynolds, 1978, 19 copy by M.Guirand (1895) mentioned; Robinson, 1913, from Norton, 195-6. From these Applebaum, 1962, 35; Lüderitz-Reynolds, 1983, 38; discussed Struffolino, 2014, 366-7.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. Transcription (1827, Pacho, plate LXXVIII, numbered LXXIX)

   Fig. 2. Face (Joyce Reynolds, Tolmeita I.28)