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OGIS: 17


AN ALTAR OF ATHENA AND PTOLEMAIOS AT LAPETHOS, CYPRUS

Greek text:   LBW_3.2778
Date:   early 3rd century B.C.
Format:   see key to translations

This bilingual inscription - in Greek and Phoenician - shows the mixture of cultures that could occur in Ptolemaic garrisons. The Greek goddess Athena is equated with the Semitic goddess Anat.   Dittenberger noted that the combination in the Greek text of dative case (for Athena) and genitive (of Ptolemaios) is strange, but they must be taken together.

The translation of the Phoenician text (KAI 42) is taken from F. Giusfredi, "On Phoenicians in Ptolemaic Cyprus: A Note on CIS I 95" ( academia.edu ).


{Greek}   With good fortune; Praxidemos son of Sesmas set up this altar for Athena Nike the Saviour and of king Ptolemaios.

{Phoenician}   To Anat force(?) of life(?) and to Ptolemy the lord of the kings. Ba'alšillem son of Sesmay consecrated the altar with good luck.

inscription 18


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