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Joyce M. Reynolds2007

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Unpublished inscription. This version born digital

 English French German Ancient Greek Transliterated Greek Modern Greek Italian Latin Spanish Turkish AsiaTurkeyAphrodisiasGeyre 2007-03-07Charlotte TupmanDONEGBhand tidied 2006-11-07Elliott HallBatch converted Word2XML
Description of Monument

Fragment of a stele or a panel, with back, probably bottom and perhaps left edge surviving (0.23 x 0.23 x 0.07).

Description of Text

Inscribed on one face.

Letters

Standard second to third century A.D. forms; ave. 0.03; guidelines; possibly, but not certainly, two hands.

Date

Second to third centuries A.D. (lettering).

Edition ιιλοι αβγδε αβγδε
Translation

No translation possible.

Commentary

The most likely explanation for the abecederies inscribed on this panel is that they are the practice cuttings of a student or apprentice stonecutter; just possibly l. 4 is a less competent imitation of the example in l. 2. The possibility should also be noted, however, that this may be a professional stonecutter's demonstration text, advertising his ability, as it were. It is not entirely impossible that this sort of text had a more arcane purpose in ritual or magic, but speculation would be fruitless.

Locations

Martyrion: SWC 5, W. Narthex Unknown Museum (1977)

Text Constituted From

Transcription (Reynolds)

History of Recording

Found by the NYU expedition in 1962 (62.249)

Bibliography

Unpublished.

Photographs

Face (1977)