AE 1939, 136: some new readings for a complex inscription edited by A. Audollent

Fontana Elboj, Gonzalo Ceferino (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The inscription under study in this paper (AE 1939, 136) was discovered in Furnos Maius (modern-day Aïn Fourna; Tunisia) in 1923. It is currently kept in the Bardo National Museum (Tunis). This inscription consists of a double prophylactic text against hail, engraved on both sides of a cross measuring 35 cm × 34 cm and weighing 1290 grams. The cross appears to have been roughly cut out from a thick lead sheet. The upper end of the vertical arm, which contains the fi rst lines of the text, is detached from the rest of the piece. It was discovered in the canal of the city’s Roman aqueduct, but it is highly unlikely that it was originally intended for such a location. T he presence of several holes, which have partially damaged its text, suggests that the cross was affi xed somewhere. However, it is probable that this was not its initial destination either, as such an arrangement would have obstructed the reading of one of its sides. Its exact dating remains uncertain, with a plausible estimate being the late 5th or even 6th century AD. This would place it within the Vandal period (439–533) or, potentially, during the Byzantine rule over the region (533–ca. 660).
Furthermore, it quickly became evident that the inscription was exceptionally challenging to decipher (Cagnat 1924, xxxvii), and it took twenty-six years for the fi rst edition and a comprehensive study of its text to appear (Audollent 1951, 45–76). Even so, despite the diffi culties, the fact that both sides of the piece presented two very similar versions of the same text allowed Audollent to carry out his edition (1951, 47–48), which remains the only one to date. However, as will be seen, he left large sections of the inscription unresolved, a circumstance that has prompted an effort to attempt to enhance his reading and, in doing so, explain some of its more intricate passages.

Idioma: Inglés

Año: 2023

Publicado en: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 228 (2023), 303-307
ISSN: 0084-5388

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 0.3 - Archeology (Q3) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q3)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.219 - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q2) - Archeology (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Filología Latina (Dpto. Ciencias de la Antigüed.)