Description: A plain white marble
masonry block (w: 0.40 × h: 0.235 × d: 0.56), on the face of which a tabella
ansata has been incised. The face is fairly worn.
Text: The date, a, is written above the tabella and
down the right side, which is worn; the main text, b, is
written within the tabella, with each line of verse separated
by an incised line.
Letters: Av. 0.02; irregular.
Date: A.D. 543 or A.D. 558. (indiction, reign)
Findspot: Aphrodisias: Stray find.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: Museum.
Interpretive
a
βαϲιλεύοντοϲ Ἰουϲτινιανοῦ
ἰν-
δ(ικτίωνοϲ)
ζ
5μη(νὸϲ)
α̣
Π̣Ο
[---]
Ι̣Κ̣ b
ἐνθάδε τὴν ἱερὰν κεφαλὴν γαῖα καλύπτει |
κούρηϲ ᾗ τὸ πάροιθεν ἐπώνυμον | οὔνομα κεῖτο· |
μήτιοϲ εὐφήμοιο καὶ οὐκ ἑ|(5)τέρ’ ἔπλετο φήμηϲ |
εὐφυέοϲ πινυτοῖϲιν ἐφ’ἔρ|γμασιν αἰὲν ἐοῦϲα· |
5ἀλλὰ θεῶν μακάρων Εὐφημία | ἐϲ χορὸν ἥκοιϲ. |
(10) ἐπλήρωϲεν τὸν βίον Εὐφημία | ἐτῶν ιη ἰνδ̣(ικτίωνος) [ζ ---] μ̣η̣(νὸϲ) α̣
Diplomatic
a
ΒΑϹΙΛΕΥΟΝΤΟϹΙΟΥϹΤΙΝΙΑΝΟΥ
ΙΝ
Δ
Ζ
5ΜΗ
.
.Ο
[---]
.. b
ΕΝΘΑΔΕΤΗΝΙΕΡΑΝΚΕΦΑΛΗΝΓΑΙΑΚΑΛΥΠΤΕΙ |
ΚΟΥΡΗϹΗΤΟΠΑΡΟΙΘΕΝΕΠΩΝΥΜΟΝ | ΟΥΝΟΜΑΚΕΙΤΟ |
ΜΗΤΙΟϹΕΥΦΗΜΟΙΟΚΑΙΟΥΚΕ |(5)ΤΕΡΕΠΛΕΤΟΦΗΜΗϹ |
ΕΥΦΥΕΟϹΠΙΝΥΤΟΙϹΙΝΕΦΕΡ |ΓΜΑΣΙΝΑΙΕΝΕΟΥϹΑ |
5ΑΛΛΑΘΕΩΝΜΑΚΑΡΩΝΕΥΦΗΜΙΑ | ΕϹΧΟΡΟΝΗΚΟΙϹ |
(10) ΕΠΛΗΡΩϹΕΝΤΟΝΒΙΟΝΕΥΦΗΜΙΑ | ΕΤΩΝΙΗΙΝ.[.---]...
Apparatus
a: It is not certain whether there are any significant traces after l.6.
b.11: The missing area may well have been an original fault, since the surviving letters convey all the information that we would
expect.
English translation
Translation source: ALA 2004
a. In the reign of Justinian, the seventh indiction, the first month [---]
b. Here earth covers the sacred head of a girl who, before, had an appropriate name. She was of well-famed skill and similarly
of a seemly reputation, being always (engaged) in prudent labours. But, Euphemia, may you come to the choir of the blessed
gods. Euphemia completed her life at 18 years, in the [seventh] indiction [---] the first month.
German translation
Translation source: Merkelbach and Stauber, 1998
Hier bedeckt die Erde das heilige Haupt des Mädchens, die früher den Namen der Klugheit mit dem schönen Ruf hatte: und die
hatten keinen anderen Ruf als den von guter Art, da sie immer kluge Handlungen verrichtete. So mögest du, Euphemia, zum Reigen
der unsterblichen Götter gelangen.
Euphemia hat ihr Leben vollendet, als sie 18 Jahre alt war, in der siebenten Indictio, im ersten Monat.
Bibliography
Transcription: New York University expedition in 1966.
Publication: Roueché, ALA 157 and plate xxxvii, whence McCabe, PHI, 1996 732 , Merkelbach and Stauber, 1998 02/09/29 , ALA 2004 157, IAph2007 15.362.
