IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

M.70. Invocations

Description: Natural rock-cut cave, with a small recess to the left of the entrance and a deeper one to the right, whose interior walls carry prehistoric graffiti as well as Greek inscriptions. There are graffito images of a gazelle on the roof to the left, of a bird, and of a group of birds, probably partridges.
Text: Inscribed on the walls and ceiling of the entrance and of both recesses. (1) beside the bird to the left of the entry; (2) beyond the gazelle; (3) below no. 2; (4) on the rock face opposite, beside the entry to a small recess, and below a natural niche; (5) above no. 4 and below another niche; there is a group of birds upside down to this and another (illegible) text below it; (6) above no. 5; (7) to the right of no. 6 and above the birds; (8) below no. 7 and near ground level; (9) to the right of no. 8 and round a half-comer leading towards the larger recess, above a niche; (10) below the same niche; (11) beside the same niche; (12) within the deep recess, on the roof near the entrance:
Letters: Various hands, third century BCE- third century CE. 2: the last 3 letters in a monogram 8b: ε with Ε; ligature, ΥΚ ; 10: nu written backwards

Date: Third century BCE- third century CE

Findspot: Sites between Berenike and Taucheira: Wadi Zaza; first recorded by Mansour Abdussalem and Abdul-hamid Abdussaid in 1971.
Original location: Findspot
Last recorded location: Findspot.

Interpretive

1
Δ̣Υ̣Ε̣Π̣
2
Γοββα
3
[---]ΟΙΝΙ̣ΝΜΗ[---]
4
[---]Γοββά θεός
5
[.]Ϲ εὐ̣προ̣ϲ̣όδ̣αϲ(?)
6
Καλλ-
ίμα-
[χ]ος
7
a
Π̣όπλι̣[ος?]
b
Λ̣ΕΑ̣Π̣[---]
c
ἈδδΔ[ιδας?]
d
ΑΚ̣Μ̣Ε̣[---]
e
Δίδυ̣μο̣[ς]
f
[---]Μ[---]
g
[---]Μ[---]
8
a
[---]λ̣οχ[ος?]
b
[---]Εὐκ
c
[---]ΛΟΥΟ̣Ϲ̣
d
[.]ΕΛ
9
[.]ΝΕ̣[.]Θ̣
[..]ΣΕ
ΝΟΣ
ΚΑΛ
10
ΚΑΛΕ[.]Η̣Ϲ
ΚΑΛΕΑΝΟϹ
11
a
ΚΙΑΜ̣Α̣ϹϹ
b
[---]αισαβος Ἀρί-
μα
c
[---]ου Ἀρίμας
d
Χαρίλ̣α̣[ς]
Χαρι[λάου]
e
[---] εὐχά
[---]ΧΟ[---]
12
a
[---]Ν̣Ε̣Π̣Μ̣[---]
b
[---]Λ̣Ι̣Μ̣Ν̣[---]
c
Π̣ρ̣ό̣κ̣λ̣ου
d
[---]ΕΝ
e
[---προσκύν?]ε̣[μα?](?)[---]

Diplomatic

1
....
2
ΓΟΒΒΑ
3
[---]ΟΙΝ.ΝΜΗ[---]
4
[---]ΓΟΒΒΑΘΕΟΣ
5
[·]ϹΕ.ΠΡ..Ο.ΑϹ
6
ΚΑΛΛ
ΙΜΑ
[.]ΟΣ
7
a
.ΟΠΛ.[..]
b
.Ε..[---]
c
ΑΔΔΔ[....]
d
Α...[---]
e
ΔΙΔ.Μ.[.]
f
[---]Μ[---]
g
[---]Μ[---]
8
a
[---].ΟΧ[..]
b
[---]ΕΥΚ
c
[---]ΛΟΥ..
d
[·]ΕΛ
9
[·]Ν.[·].
[··]ΣΕ
ΝΟΣ
ΚΑΛ
10
ΚΑΛΕ[·]
ΚΑΛΕΑΝΟϹ
11
a
ΚΙΑ..ϹϹ
b
[---]ΑΙΣΑΒΟΣΑΡΙ
ΜΑ
c
[---]ΟΥΑΡΙΜΑΣ
d
ΧΑΡΙ..[.]
ΧΑΡΙ[....]
e
[---]ΕΥΧΑ
[---]ΧΟ[---]
12
a
[---]....[---]
b
[---]....[---]
c
.....ΟΥ
d
[---]ΕΝ
e
[---.......].[..---]

5: [ . . ]ϲευιροσποααϲ

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

(1: Not usefully translatable);

(2): ?Gobba;

(3: Not usefully translatable);

(4): ?Gobba, God;

(5): . . . ] ?approachable;

(6): Kallimachos;

(7): (a): ?Poplios (i.e. Publius); (c); ?Addidas; (e); Didymos; (b, d, f, g: Not usefully translatable);

(8-10: Not usefully translatable);

(11): (a: Not usefully translatable); (b): ?Arimmas; (c); ?Arimas; (d); Charilas (scil. son) of Chairesilaos; (e); . . . ]?prayer [ . . .;

(12): (a, b, d: Not usefully translatable); (c): ?of Proklos; (e); ?worship;

Commentary

Texts 2 and 4: This appears to be Γοββα, perhaps a personal name - Latin name, Gobus, is found at Salona (ILJug 2165, available at EDH 034469) or, in the light of 4, perhaps a divinity.

Line 5: perhaps : ‘approachable’, sc. deities, apparently female.

Bibliography: Abdussalem-Reynolds, 1997, 1, whence SEG 47.2200
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. Detail, Text 7 (Reynolds 1971, NS.XIV.28)

   Fig. 2. Text 10 (Reynolds 1971, NS.XIV.29)

   Fig. 3. Detail (Reynolds 1971, NS.XIV.30)

   Fig. 4. Text 2 (Reynolds 1971, NS.XIV.33)