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 right of the central niche; each entry in a different hand;
1 centred above, 2 to the left, a above b, 3 to the right, a above b.
Letters: Probably first-second century. Sizes varying, rough; occasional lunate epsilon, square sigma, cursive omega.
Date: Probably first to second centuries CE
Findspot: Gebel Akhdar: West of Cyrene:
Wadi Bu Nabeh, Bu Darag.
Original location: Findspot
Last recorded location:
Findspot.
Apparatus
2.b: Recorded by Pacho; not recorded by Ferri2.c.1: ἀγαθεκλεα Pacho, 1827; ἀγάθοκλε(ι)α ? Ferri, 1922
3.b.2: ἀγαθοκλεῦς Ferri, 1922
English translation
Translation by: Charlotte Roueché
(1): Place of Iason; (1): Place of Iason; (2.a): Dioskourides came; (2.b): . . . ] Aracho; (2.c): Agathokleia (scil. daughter) of Sosistratos; (3.a): I Dion have come; I Helix have come; I Prothymos have come; I Rhesos have come; (3.b): Agathokles (scil. son) of Agathokles, an Idumaean [ . . . ] came
Commentary
1: The normal sense of this formula in Cyrene is funerary, and Ferri in fact suggested that this chamber had originally been cut as a tomb, see also M.206, above; but it is difficult to feel that this is correct, all the more as this text seems to be unrelated to any loculus or other type of burial place. Ferri's alternative suggestion that Jason was the owner of the site seems more acceptable; but it may be that this is simply indicating the place where Jason wrote his name; compare also the name in the genitive in M.208 1.a.
2.a, 3.a, 3.b: The references to coming to the location make it clear that these are pilgrims.
3.b: Idumaean: see on M.208.
Bibliography: Pacho, 1827, LXIV.2, with Letronne, p.395-6, whence 2 CIG, Vol.III, 5149; Ferri, 1922, 7 ζ-ο, fig. 19, whence SEG 9.745, SEG 9.746, SEG 9.747, SEG 9.748, SEG 9.749, SEG 9.750, SEG 9.751, SEG 9.752; see also Ferri, 1923, 10f.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds)
Images
Fig. 1. Transcription (1827, Pacho, plate LXIV)
Fig. 2. Text 1a, first lines of 2 (Reynolds IX.80)
Fig. 3. Text 1 and 2 (Reynolds IX.81)
Fig. 4. Text 2, right end (Reynolds IX.75)