Dedication to an unknown deity

IGCyr103420

Trismegistos ID: 738555

Source Description

Support

Limestone altar (0.63; 0.315;0.455).

Layout

Inscribed on the right part of one long side.

Letters

0.011 to 0.022

Place of Origin

Findspot.

Date

Admittedly Hellenistic (monument-type)

Findspot

Found before 1960 at Cyrene , in the so called Agora of the Gods .

Last recorded Location

Seen by D. Morelli in 1960 in situ.

Present Location

Not seen by IGCyr team.

Text constituted from

Transcription from editor.

Bibliography

SECir , 233 (no image); cf. Parisi Presicce, 2007 , p. 498.

Text

+ [.]  + λ̣ [..]  + βώμιος

Apparatus

French translation

 [---]  de l'autel.

English translation

 [---]  of the altar.

Italian translation

 [---]  dell'altare.

Commentary

The beginning of the line might contain Μ̣η̣λ̣[ιχίω], but the relation with βώμιος would not be clear. Furthermore, Melikhios is not attested inside the Sanctuary of Apollo.

The adjective βώμιος is used by the Attic tragic poets, applying to a suppliant touching the altar, to a victim about to be slaughtered on it, to a prayer uttered in front of it. On the other hand, an adjective compound with -βώμιος, such as ἀποβώμιος would be an interesting alternative, as the unclear lambda might also be an alpha. However this word, already attested at Cyrene, is cut on a vase 'not to be put on the altar' (IGCyr109700), whereas it is hardly plausible that it may be cut with the same meaning on the altar itself. A new examination might be fruitful if the stone was traced.

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