7.10. Fragment with alphabet

Description:
Fragment of a stele or a panel, with back, probably bottom and perhaps left edge surviving (W. 0.23 x H. 0.23 x D. c. 0.07).
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).
Findspot:
Martyrion: SWC 5, W. Narthex
Original Location:
Unknown
Last recorded location:
Museum (1977)
History of discovery:
Found by the NYU expedition in 1962 (62.249)
Bibliography:
Unpublished.
Text constituted from:
Transcription (Reynolds) This edition Reynolds (2007).
0·· ? ··]
1[·]Ι̣Ι̣ΛΟΙ̣[·· ? ··]
2ΑΒΓΔΕ̣[·· ? ··]
3 vac. scroll [·· ? ··]
4 v. ΑΒΓΔΕ̣[·· ? ··]
4a       vacat
0·· ? ··]
1[·]··ΛΟ·[ - - - ]
2ΑΒΓΔ·[ - - - ]
3     scroll [ - - - ]
4 ΑΒΓΔ·[ - - - ]
4a       vacat
<ab>
<lb n="0" />
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="line" dim="top" />
<lb n="1" />
<gap reason="lost" extent="1" unit="character" />
<orig n="unresolved" >
<unclear reason="damage" >
ιι
</unclear>
λο
<unclear reason="damage" >
ι
</unclear>
</orig>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" dim="right" />
<lb n="2" />
<orig n="unresolved" >
αβγδ
<unclear reason="damage" >
ε
</unclear>
</orig>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" dim="right" />
<lb n="3" />
<space extent="4" unit="character" dim="horizontal" />
<g type="scroll" />
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" dim="right" />
<lb n="4" />
<space extent="1" unit="character" dim="horizontal" />
<orig n="unresolved" >
αβγδ
<unclear reason="damage" >
ε
</unclear>
</orig>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" dim="right" />
<lb n="4a" />
<space extent="1" unit="line" dim="horizontal" />
</ab>
Translation:
not usefully translatable.

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.

Photographs:

Face (1977)
 Face (1977)

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