Description: Two joining pieces of a marble
block,
w: 0.75 × h: 0.29 × d: 0.60. On the top is a rectangular slot (w: 0.50 × d: 0.06) ,
and two circular dowel holes (diam: 0.10) with some traces of metal, apparently for supporting a stele or a relief.
Text:
Inscribed on a smoothed framed area on the face,
w: 0.45 × h: 0.18; line 3 impinges on the frame.
Letters: 0.01-0.02; sigma reversed in lines 1-4. Triangular stop.
Date: Mid second to mid third century CE (lettering)
Findspot: Aphrodisias:
Necropolis, South-west area,
approximately two kilometres south-west of Aphrodisias (Aphrodisias regional survey 2006B089).
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: Museum
Interpretive
Τ̣ύμβόν, σοι, Φ̣ι̣[λά]δελφε, καταφθι-
μ̣ένῳ ἐμόγησα ((stop)) Ἑλενίς, ἡ μήτηρ ((stop))
ᾧ ἐπέγραψε πάρος ((stop)) πῶς ἔθανες; ποί̣-
οισι τόποις; τίνος ἦς ἀκόλουθος;
5ζητοῦσα ψυχὴ̣ν τέκνου κατατεθν<η>-
ῶτος ((stop)) τῷ καὶ ἑκοῦσα, τέκνον, κατα-
βήσομαι δόμον εἰς Ἀΐδαο ((stop)) καὶ
σὺν σοὶ μελέη κείσομαι ἀθάνα-
( vac. 7) τος ( vac. 12)
Diplomatic
.ΥΜΒΟΝΣΟΙ..[..]ΔΕΛΦΕΚΑΤΑΦΘΙ
.ΕΝΩΕΜΟΓΗΣΑ • ΕΛΕΝΙΣΗΜΗΤΗΡ •
ΩΕΠΕΓΡΑΨΕΠΑΡΟΣ • ΠΩΣΕΘΑΝΕΣΠΟ.
ΟΙΣΙΤΟΠΟΙΣΤΙΝΟΣΗΣΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΟΣ
5ΖΗΤΟΥΣΑΨΥΧ.ΝΤΕΚΝΟΥΚΑΤΑΤΕΘΝ
ΩΤΟΣ • ΤΩΚΑΙΕΚΟΥΣΑΤΕΚΝΟΝΚΑΤΑ
ΒΗΣΟΜΑΙΔΟΜΟΝΕΙΣΑΙΔΑΟ • ΚΑΙ
ΣΥΝΣΟΙΜΕΛΕΗΚΕΙΣΟΜΑΙΑΘΑΝΑ
ΤΟΣ
English translation
Translation source: Chaniotis, 2012
This tomb, Philadelphos, I labored for you with pain, when you died,
I, Helenis, your mother. On your tomb [or: for you] this I inscribed once.
How did you die? In what places? Whose follower were you?
Seeking the soul of my child, who has died,
5for this, my child, even of my own free will I shall descend to the house of Hades
and with you I shall lie, wretched in eternity.
English translation
Translation source: Petrovic, 2010
For you, Philadelphos, since you are dead, I made this grave with toil.
I, Helenis, your mother. For you who are dead, I had this once inscribed.
How did you die? In which part of the world? Whose follower were you?
I am seeking for the soul of my deceased child
5 and because of this, of my own free will, I shall, my child, descend to the house of Hades.
With you I will rest, forever wretched.
Bibliography
Transcription: New York University expedition 06-30, I 06-14 B089
Publication: Petrovic, 2010 , whence SEG 60.1082, Chaniotis, EBGR 2010.150; Chaniotis, 2012 15, whence SEG 62.814, Chaniotis, EBGR 2013.150, Chaniotis, EBGR 2015.41; Chaniotis, 2016 5, whence SEG 66.1151 (mention)