Description of Monument

On the box of a white marble garland sarcophagus; for description see Isik 112.

Description of Text

Inscribed on the upper moulding of the tabella, within it, and on its two lower mouldings, with some initial letters and some concluding ones impinging onto the side mouldings. The text must have begun on the lid, and ended on the lower moulding of the chest.

Letters

Distinct from Aphrodisian norms, without serifs, uneven in size and lineation, probably third century, ave. 0.03. Unconventional spelling in ll.1, 8, 9, 11.

Date

Perhaps middle third century (lettering, nomenclature).

Edition - - Αὐρήλιος Ἄταλος Βονβει καὶ Νεικήτης βούλομαι μετὰ τὸ παύσασθαι αὐτοὺς ἐντεθῆναι πτῶμα ἕν εἰ δέ τις μετὰ τὸ ἐντεθῆναι Ἀταλίδα Ἀτά λου εἴ τις ἐνθήσει ἄλο πτῶμα παρὰ τὸ ὡρισμένον ἀποτείσει ἰς τὸν sic φίσκον δηνάρια πεντακόσια καὶ τῷ δήμῳ δηνάρια πεντακόσια καὶ ἔσται ὁ κίνδυνος

Apparatus

ll. 3, 10, 11, Αταλος with single Τ sic passim

l. 4, alpha (small) cut between tau and omicron and tau within the circle of omicron; l.8, Α om. lapis.

Translation

- - - ] Aurelius At(t)alos Bonbei (?) and Niketes. I wish that after their deaths one body be placed in it; and if anyone after At(t)alis daughter of At(t)alos has been placed in it, if anyone places another body contrary to this limitation , he shall pay to the fiscus five hundred denarii, and to the People five hundred denarii and the danger [...]

Commentary

The lettering, spelling, formulae and the name Bonbei are alien to known Aphrodisian practice; Robert suggested tentatively that the sarcophagus was used (and, we add, inscribed) at Tabae. Bonbei, clearly the second name of Attalos, is not certainly explicable (Robert related it to the verb βομβεῖν, to buzz, and noted the existence of the names Bombos and Bombylos). The owner (whose name is lost) provided that Aurelius Attalos Bonbei and Nicetes (as well, no doubt, as himself) were to be buried in the sarcophagus, with a place reserved for Attalis the daughter of Attalos; it is to be noted that only the first of these three is given the nomen Aurelius - Niketes has a single name only and Attalis is named in the Greek manner.The fine of 1000 denarii for infringement of the provisions is to be divided between the fiscus (the treasury of the emperor at Rome) and the local community, and is smaller than is usual at Aphrodisias; the final surviving words clearly contain a threat but use a formula at present unknown to us.There is a marked contrast in quality with the lettering on another garland sarcophagus found at Hirka (14.2).

Locations

Unknown Neighbouring settlement, Hirka Findspot

Text Constituted From

Transcription (Reynolds).

History of Recording

Recorded by Robert; by Isik.

Bibliography

Recorded at Hirka and published L. Robert, La Carie II (Paris, 1954), 113, no 19, whence PHI Tabae 19; Reynolds & Isik 112.