Road signpost

IGCyr030800

Trismegistos ID: 738300

Source Description

Support

Limestone block, pertaining to a (probably ancient) wall (dimensions unknown).

Layout

Inscribed on one face.

Letters

Deeply cut, height unknown.

Place of Origin

Findspot.

Date

Perhaps second century B.C. (lettering)

Findspot

Found at Cyrene : on the Road: Cyrene to Apollonia , after leaving the North Necropolis .

Present Location

Not found by IGCyr team.

Text constituted from

Transcription from editor.

Bibliography

Oliverio, 1933-1936 , pp. 110-111, n. 82, tab. XXV, fig. 38, whence SEG , 9.324. Cf. Dobias-Lalou, 2013 , pp. 169-171; Criscuolo, 2015 , p. 87.

Text

ἱππικ-ός.

Apparatus

1 Oliverio, 1933-1936  ἱππικός

French translation

(Route autorisée), pour chevaux.

English translation

(Road allowed) for horses.

Italian translation

(Strada) per cavalli.

Arabic translation

(ربما تعني ضمنياً: شوارع مسموح بها (؟)) للخيول

Commentary

The photograph shows clearly that the inscription runs on two lines, pace Oliverio.

Oliverio gives dimensions for the letters, that seem incredible unless the wall («antichissimo») was made of really huge blocks.

Another similar mention has been registered on the road from Cyrene to Balagrae, see IGCyr107350.Since the publication of the other inscription, it has been admitted that the word δρόμος should be supplied, indicating a road allowed for horses and carriages, not a racecourse as Oliverio thought. Criscuolo now prefers a subaudible τόπος, i.e. a place where horses might stay (and Chandezon, per litteras, even suggested a grazing place). However those interesting ideas would not fit the place well. The question cannot be definitely decided.

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