IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.497. Dedication of a statue of Parthenos and a shrine

Description: Major part of white marble base, with a circular depression on top, broken above, moulded below, damaged along all edges (w: 0.50 x h: 0.24 x d: 0.40).
Text: Inscribed on one face.
Letters: First-second century. Letters, apparently drawn freehand, with ovals for the circles: line 1, 0.03; lines 2,4, 0.02; line 3, 0.025.

Date: Second century CE

Findspot: Cyrene: very probably the Extramural Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore; recorded in 1916.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location: Cyrene Museum.

Interpretive

[Κ]λ(αυδία) ((stop)) Β̣ε̣νόστ̣α ((stop)) Κλ(αυδίου) ((stop)) Κ[αρ-]
τ̣ισθένους θυγάτηρ ((stop)) τὰ̣[ν]
Παρθένον ((stop)) ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων
( vac. 4) καὶ τὸν ναὸν ((leaf)) ( vac. 6)

Diplomatic

[.]Λ ..ΝΟΣ.Α ΚΛ Κ[..-]
.ΙΣΘΕΝΟΥΣΘΥΓΑΤΗΡ Τ.[.]
ΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΝ ΕΚΤΩΝΙΔΙΩΝ
        ΚΑΙΤΟΝΝΑΟΝ             

Italian translation

Translation source: Oliverio, DAI, 1933-1936

Claudia Venosta, di Claudio Cartistene figlia la (statua della) Vergine, a proprie spese, ed il tempio (consacrò)

English translation

Translation source: Reynolds, 2012

Claudia Venusta, daughter of Claudius Kartisthenes, gave the Parthenos from her own funds, and the temple.

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

Kl(audia) Benosta (i.e. Cl(audia) Venusta), daughter of Kl(audios) (i.e. Cl(audius)) Kartisthenes (scil. gave) the Parthenos from her own funds, and the temple.

Commentary

Claudia Venusta and her father also figure in C.495, C.456, C.497 and C.498 which record other dedications that she made, almost certainly in this Sanctuary. See further on C.456. Mohamed and Reynolds questioned the normally proposed identity of Kore and Parthenos, suggesting that Parthenos was Athena, but I have come to feel that rash. Mohamed and Reynolds questioned the normally proposed identity of Kore and Parthenos, suggesting that Parthenos was Athena, but I have come to feel that rash.

Bibliography: Oliverio, DAI, 1933-1936, 71 (63), pl. XIX, fig 26, whence SEG 9.163, PHI 324014; Reynolds, 2012, B.5.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. Face (Reynolds VIII.17)