II.1.1 318. Commercial notation and Incertum, ca. 450 B.C.E.
Monument
Type
Fragment of base, Diam 6.0.
Material
Clay.
Dimensions (cm)
H., W., Th., Diam..
Additional description
Attica, BG saltcellar, ca. 450 B.C.E. (close to Agora XII, no. 931).
Find place
Berezan.
Find context
Area Г, half-square 29, ashy layer, depth down to 2.5 m.
Find circumstances
Found in 1966, excavations of K.S. Gorbunova.
Modern location
Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.
Institution and inventory
The State Hermitage Museum, Б.66.132.
Autopsy
August 2016.
Epigraphic field 1
Position
Base, underside.
Lettering
Graffito.
Letterheights (cm)
Unknown.
Text 1
Category
Commercial
Date
Ca. 450 B.C.E.
Dating criteria
Ceramic date.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Α
<lb n="2"/>
</ab>
</div>Apparatus criticus
Translation
Commentary
Images
Epigraphic field 2
Position
Wall, exterior.
Lettering
Graffito.
Text 2
Category
Incertum.
Date
Ca. 450 B.C.E.
Dating criteria
Ceramic date.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Β̣ΙΑ[- -]
<lb n="2"/>
</ab>
</div>Apparatus criticus
Translation
Commentary
This might be a personal name, e.g. Βίας. A man of that name is known at Tyras (LGPN V4-16579), V-IV cent BCE (SEG XLV 1026. 18 (vase)). Position on the wall of saltcellar, so in a highly visible position, would suggest an owner's name rather than that of a merchant, but there is no certainty here, hence Incertum. Other names can be restored as well, e.g. Βιάνωρ, which is known at Nymphaion in the III cent BCE (CIRB 912).
Images
© 2024 Irene
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