a
b
c
b
c
Description: White marble sarcophagus w: 1.95 × h: 0.81 × d: 0.78 with a central tabella ansata, supported by putti. On either side, garlands, with a bust above.
Text: a. Inscribed around the bust to the left, b. around the bust to the right, c. on the tabella; inscription c. must have begun on the lid.
Letters: Quite nicely designed in the second-to-fourth-century style, reasonably well cut, fairly well aligned, 0.02 ; unconventional spelling in a, line 2.
Date: Sarcophagus: Mid-Severan; Text: Probably middle third century CE (lettering, nomenclature)
Findspot: Aphrodisias: City, Village: ' In a house-yard' (MAMA)
Original location: Unknown: necropolis
Last recorded location: Museum
Apparatus
b: Highlighted letters were read by Sherard, but not subsequently
c.1: τε omitted by Cormack
English translation
Translation source: Reynolds, 2007
a. The sarcophagus belongs to Marcus Aurelius Zenon, city-councillor
b. and to Marcus Aurelius Menippos, his brother
c. [? in which sarcophagus] there shall be buried himself and Aur(elius) Polychronios his son and Epiktetos whom he fostered, and whomsoever he wishes; in the burial place which faces the road there shall be buried Drosis and Dionysios.
Bibliography
Transcription: Picenini, 1705 20v and, from Tisser, 68, whence Sherard, 1705 31v-32; Kubitschek, June 1893 K.III.39, Abklatsch 104; Gaudin, 1904 148, part, photograph only; Calder, 1934; New York University expedition, Sarcophagus 29
Publication: CIG II.2, 1835 2828 (c), 2838 (a and b) ; Reinach, 1906 164 (part); MAMA 8 575 , whence McCabe, PHI, 1996 463 ; Reynolds, 2007 110 ; IAph2007 11.59.
Images
Fig. 1. Face (M. Roueché, 1973)
Fig. 2. Face (M. Roueché, 2002)
Fig. 3. a: detail (Reynolds, 1982)
Fig. 4. Sherard, fair copy (Harley MS 7509), f.13r, at British Library
Fig. 5. Kubitschek notebook III, 39