2.3. Graffiti: insults and acclamations

Description:: Wall plaster fragments: a section of plaster very heavily covered with graffiti; there are many other indeterminate traces beyond those described here.
Text:: Scratched into the plaster. i: In the upper register. ii: In the upper register, to the right of i. iii: In the next register, below and to the left of i. iv: To the right of iii, below the first crowned figure in ii. v: In the third register, below and to right of iii,
Letters:: graffito: i. 0.015; ii. 0.015-0.02; iv: 0.05-0.015; abbreviations, ο above Π, Κ with scroll.
Date:: First to sixth centuries A.D. (context)
Findspot:: Bouleuterion/Odeon: The easternmost recess behind the backstage corridor.
Original Location:: Findspot
Last recorded location:: Museum
History of discovery:: Recorded by the NYU expedition in 1964 (64.447).
Bibliography:: Published by Roueché, ALA 218, whence McCabe PHI Aphrodisias 782, 783, 788, and again as PPA 11.A
Text constituted from:: Transcription (Reynolds, Roueché). This edition Roueché (2007).

i: (To the left, a large cross (c. 0. 20) drawn in outline, and filled in with hatching; it stands on a horizontal, from which a short line depends, perhaps depicting some kind of access.); 1 Καρ[μ]ιδιανός ΚΑΙΩ̣Ν; 2 παθηκός vac. ΚΥΔΙΑΣ[·]
ii: ( Three representations of facing figures; each figure wears a radiate crown with a halo, and faces forward, with his left hand extended holding an orb surmounted by a cross. The first figure, which is damaged by later scratches, wears a toga, and stands on a rectangular support; his right hand cannot be made out. The second is seated on a throne with a back support and a cushioned seat; his feet are on a foot-rest, and his right arm appears to be across his chest. The third is also seated, with a foot-rest but no back support; he holds an orb which is marked with hatching. and apparently with his right arm supports ?a sceptre, with a round decorated top, which leans on his right shoulder; a text runs above the image, in apparent association with it - - perhaps the name of the man who drew it.); 1 Καρμι̣λι̣αινός
iii: (In the next register, below and to the left of i, a design of an organ, with a hatched upper edge, above a row of uprights terminating in circles.)
iv: (A sketch of a seated figure seen from the rear; his right arm and right leg are extended, the left arm is not visible, and the left leg is drawn up. He is naked, except for a cloak which covers his left shoulder and left leg. To the left is a text, which need not be associated with the figure.); 1 Ν̣ι̣κᾷ ἡ τύ -; 2 χη τῆς πό(λεως) κ(αὶ) τοῦ; 3 γράψαντος
v: ( In the third register, below and to right of iii, an image of an organ on a support. The vertical support is carefully hatched; the horizontal resting on it bears a series of uprights of graduated height, sloping upwards from left to right. There is a second virtually identical image some way below, to the left, and perhaps the sketchy outlines of a third.)

i: (To the left, a large cross (c. 0. 20) drawn in outline, and filled in with hatching; it stands on a horizontal, from which a short line depends, perhaps depicting some kind of access.); 1ΚΑΡ[·]ΙΔΙΑΝΟΣΚΑΙ·Ν; 2ΠΑΘΗΚΟΣ ΚΥΔΙΑΣ[·]
ii: ( Three representations of facing figures; each figure wears a radiate crown with a halo, and faces forward, with his left hand extended holding an orb surmounted by a cross. The first figure, which is damaged by later scratches, wears a toga, and stands on a rectangular support; his right hand cannot be made out. The second is seated on a throne with a back support and a cushioned seat; his feet are on a foot-rest, and his right arm appears to be across his chest. The third is also seated, with a foot-rest but no back support; he holds an orb which is marked with hatching. and apparently with his right arm supports ?a sceptre, with a round decorated top, which leans on his right shoulder; a text runs above the image, in apparent association with it - - perhaps the name of the man who drew it.); 1ΚΑΡΜ·Λ·ΑΙΝΟΣ
iii: (In the next register, below and to the left of i, a design of an organ, with a hatched upper edge, above a row of uprights terminating in circles.)
iv: (A sketch of a seated figure seen from the rear; his right arm and right leg are extended, the left arm is not visible, and the left leg is drawn up. He is naked, except for a cloak which covers his left shoulder and left leg. To the left is a text, which need not be associated with the figure.); 1··ΚΑΗΤΥ; 2ΧΗΤΗΣΠΟΚΤΟΥ; 3ΓΡΑΨΑΝΤΟΣ
v: ( In the third register, below and to right of iii, an image of an organ on a support. The vertical support is carefully hatched; the horizontal resting on it bears a series of uprights of graduated height, sloping upwards from left to right. There is a second virtually identical image some way below, to the left, and perhaps the sketchy outlines of a third.)

<note>

To the left, a large cross (c.

0. 20

) drawn in outline, and filled in with hatching; it stands on a horizontal, from which a short line depends, perhaps depicting some kind of access.

</note>

<ab>

Καρ

</supplied>

ιδιανός

και

</unclear>

</orig>

παθηκός

κυδιαΣ

</orig>

</ab>

</div>

<note>

Three representations of facing figures; each figure wears a radiate crown with a halo, and faces forward, with his left hand extended holding an orb surmounted by a cross. The first figure, which is damaged by later scratches, wears a toga, and stands on a rectangular support; his right hand cannot be made out. The second is seated on a throne with a back support and a cushioned seat; his feet are on a foot-rest, and his right arm appears to be across his chest. The third is also seated, with a foot-rest but no back support; he holds an orb which is marked with hatching. and apparently with his right arm supports ?a sceptre, with a round decorated top, which leans on his right shoulder; a text runs above the image, in apparent association with it - - perhaps the name of the man who drew it.

</note>

<ab>

Καρμ

</unclear>

</unclear>

αινός

</ab>

</div>

<note>

In the next register, below and to the left of i, a design of an organ, with a hatched upper edge, above a row of uprights terminating in circles.

</note>

</div>

<note>

A sketch of a seated figure seen from the rear; his right arm and right leg are extended, the left arm is not visible, and the left leg is drawn up. He is naked, except for a cloak which covers his left shoulder and left leg. To the left is a text, which need not be associated with the figure.

</note>

<ab>

</unclear>

</unclear>

κᾷ

ἡ

τύ

χη

τῆς

<expan>

<abbr>

πό

</abbr>

λεως

</supplied>

</expan>

<expan>

<abbr>

</abbr>

αὶ

</supplied>

</expan>

τοῦ

γράψαντος

</ab>

</div>

<note>

In the third register, below and to right of iii, an image of an organ on a support. The vertical support is carefully hatched; the horizontal resting on it bears a series of uprights of graduated height, sloping upwards from left to right. There is a second virtually identical image some way below, to the left, and perhaps the sketchy outlines of a third.

</note>

</div>