IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.360. Fragmentary dated record

Description: Rock-cut channel, with multiple informal inscriptions, C.336 to C.392; some are traced in the mud that coats the walls of the channel, others have been modelled by attaching strips of clay or mud to the rock.
Text: Graffito on an area of smoothed clay, w: 0.40 x h: 0.50
Letters: 0.025; ΟΥ apparently in ligature; lunate sigma, epsilon.

Date: CE 285/288

Findspot: Cyrene: Fountain of Apollo, rock-cut channel behind the fountain; first described in 1822, but not fully recorded until 1916.
Original location: Fountain of Apollo.
Last recorded location: Fountain of Apollo; no longer accessible.

Interpretive

ἔτου(ϲ) <α´> Διοκλη(τιανοῦ) ἱερεὺς Ἰού-
λιοϲ εἰϲῆλ[θ]εν [c. 4] Α̣Τ
[c. 5]ΝΕΩΗ̣Ι̣ΟΦΙ̣Λ[..]
[---]Λ̣Υ[..]
5[---]Η̣[..]

Diplomatic

ΕΤΟΥΔΙΟΚΛΗΙΕΡΕΥΣΙΟΥ
ΛΙΟϹΕΙϹΗΛ[.]ΕΝ[····]
[·····]ΝΕΩ..ΟΦ.Λ[··]
[---][··]
5[---].[··]

Italian translation

Translation source: Oliverio, 1927a

Nel primo anno dell'imperatore Diocleziano (284 d.C.) il sacerdote Giulio entrò . . .

English translation

Translation by: Editors

Year [1] of Diocletian: (the) priest Julius entered . . . .

Commentary

For commentary on this series see on C.336.

Line 1: Oliverio printed a figure α' but his drawing shows neither the letter nor the space for it. It seems probable that the writer omitted it by confusion with the first letter of Διοκλητιανοῦ; he may have intended α' = CE 284/5, or δ' = 288/9. The first is more likely, since the reference is to Diocletian as sole emperor.

Line 2: The priest is not necessarily the eponymous and if the date was CE 285, the year of Lysanias, see C.361, cannot have been.

Line 3: So Oliverio's drawing; he prints νεωκορ[ο- but compare C.354 for the epithet νέος.

Bibliography: First mentioned in 1822, but not fully recorded until 1916. Oliverio, 1927a, 35, p.228, with a drawing, p.229, tav. V, 18, whence Boehringer, 1929 399, SEG 9.274, PHI 324123.
Text constituted from: From previous publications and drawings (Reynolds).

Images

None available (2020).