Uncertain (see figure on Tp100.1)

θελητὴ
ἡ κυρία

Translation: “The lady is desired (?).”
Findspot: Smyrna, Basilica (Agora.1)
Location metadata ➜
Language: Greek
Writing Style: Graffito/incised
  • Graffito Height: 6
  • Graffito Length: 9
  • Min Letter Height: 2
  • Max Letter Height: 2
Apparatus Criticus: 1. Usage of θελητός is overwhelmingly Christian, but it occurs (rarely) in the Septuagint and once in Epictetus (Diss. ab Arr. 4.1.101). We have found no parallel for this occurrence with κυρία. Chaniotis (SEG) prefers a non-Christian interpretation. 2. The word κυρία appears also in T20.3.2 and 5 (if our interpretation of κυλείας there is correct), but the context is far from clear and does not seem to be the same as here.
Bibliography: Bagnall, R. S. et al., Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna (2016): 421.
Bagnall, R., Everyday Writing in the Graeco-Roman East (2011): 23.
SEG 61.974.
Suggested Citation: AGP-SMYTP1002, The Ancient Graffiti Project, <http://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-SMYTP1002> [accessed: 10 May 2024]
Contributions:

Editor: Roger S. Bagnall

Principal Contributor: Roger S. Bagnall

Last Revision: 2016-10-03