WP 0005

IRT2021
Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania 2021

1597. Ostrakon: Letter

Description: Ceramic ostrakon in two fragments: Upper fragment: w: 0.065 x h: 0.07 x d: 0.01; Lower fragment: w: 0.065 x h: 0.035 x d: 0.01.
Text: Letters painted, i on the exterior and ii on the interior, perpendicular to i.
Letters: No measurements

Date: 253 - 259 (context)

Findspot: Bu Njem: Fort, in the Principia; found in 1967.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: Tripoli National Museum. (Inv. no. 67-64/66)

Interpretive

i
------
[---]+++[---]
[---]c. 4 superuẹ[n]er+[---]
[---]FICI[.]SẸ ++UN+++[---]
[---] Aurelius Celestin[us ---]
5[---] die s(upra) s(cripto) ((mid-dot)) superueṇ[---]
[---] Optaṇṭus COR[---]
[---]tesseṛaṃ ạb[---]
[---]ad orḍẹụ- [---]
[---ancyr]omaco nabibus ++[---]
10[---]per Uolumniuṃ [---]
[--- b]ene ual[ere]
ii
[---]c. 10[u]enit Gallụṣ
[---]c. 11 quod +++
[---]c. 10[. r]efugas
[---]c. 14[---]

Diplomatic

i
------
[---]···[---]
[---]····SUPERU.[.]ER·[---]
[---]FICI[·]S.··UN···[---]
[---]AURELIUSCELESTIN[..---]
5[---]DIESS · SUPERUE.[---]
[---]OPTA..USCOR[---]
[---]TESSE.A..B[---]
[---]ADOR...[---]
[---.....]OMACONABIBUS··[---]
10[---]PERUOLUMNIU.[---]
[---.]ENEUAL[...]
ii
[---]··········[.]ENITGALL..
[---]···········QUOD···
[---]··········.]EFUGAS
[---]··············[---]

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

(i): . . . ] arrived [ . . . ] Aurelius Celestinus [ . . . the] day written above. Arrived [ . . . ] Optantus [ . . . ] a tablet ?from [ . . . with] a cargo-boat, ships [ . . . ] by (scil. ?the hand of) Volumnius [ . . . ] fare well.

(ii): . . . ] Gallus arrived [ . . . ] refugees/deserters [ . . .

Bibliography: O. Bu Njem 97, whence HGV 73247, DDbDP o.bu.njem.97.