II.1.1 53. Incertum (ownership?), early V century B.C.E.
Monument
Type
Fragment of.
Material
Clay.
Dimensions (cm)
H., W., Th., Diam..
Additional description
Attica, plate, early V century B.C.E.
Find place
Berezan.
Find context
Grid square 157, depth 0-0.47 m.
Find circumstances
Found in 1975, excavations of L.V. Kopeykina.
Modern location
Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.
Institution and inventory
The State Hermitage Museum, Б.75.210.
Autopsy
August 2016.
Epigraphic field
Position
Interior, floor. Originally inscribed on complete(?) vessel.
Lettering
Graffito.
Letterheights (cm)
0.7
Text
Category
Incertum
Date
Early V century B.C.E.
Dating criteria
Ceramic date.
<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>[- -]Μ̣ΦΟ[- -]
</ab>
</div>
Apparatus criticus
Translation
Commentary
The circle with crossbar is a stemless phi rather than a theta, in my view, and the letter before phi, is either a lambda or a mu: what might look like a crossbar of alpha is likely an accidental stroke, slip of a writing implement. Below that letter is another slip of the writing tool: the slips, in my view, are indicated by thinner lines than intentional strokes. Graffiti on the interior of a cup are usually either sympotic or dedications, less typically - ownership. It is possible to restore a name here, e. g. [Νυ]μ̣φο[δορος], in the Nominative or in the Genitive. Alternatively, [- -]Λ̣ΦΟ[- -] could be read [Δε]λ̣φό[ς] in the Nominative or in the Genitive - this name is attested in Chersonesos in the IV and III cent B.C.E. (V4-17004, V4-16997, V4-16998), but in Olbia-Borysthenes only in the II cent C.E.