Description:
Limestone stele, damaged above (w:
0.59 x h:
1.20 x d:
0.22); the face is largely occupied by a round-headed niche with flanking columns in relief, the right one very damaged; within
the niche a relief of a gladiator (a retiarius).
Text: Inscribed above (text a) and below (text b) the niche. Text a has four incised palm branches to the left and five to the right.
Letters: Second-third century 0.03 – 0.035; square sigma, square phi, cursive omega.
Date: Second to third centuries CE
Findspot:
Ptolemais:
near the Amphitheatre, with P.216;
found before 1915.
Original location: Probably from a gladiator cemetery
Last recorded location:
Tolmeita Museum
English translation
Translation by: Editors
(a) Hermes
(b) Hermes, who was formerly Philon
Commentary
Approximately a pair with P.216. Re-used as the cover of a late tomb.
The palm branches indicates nine victories - the same number as Hippomedon in P.216
On double names for gladiators see Robert, Gladiateurs, p. 297. Neither the original name here nor the “stage-name” (which recurs among gladiators, Robert p.109) are at all innovative.
Bibliography: Ghislanzoni, 1915, 122 and fig.27a, whence AE 1915.107, whence Robert, 1940, 67; Robert, 1946, 140 f. and pl. IX; mentioned Kenrick, 2013, 104.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. View of the monument (Reynolds III.48)