Scurrilous Allegation

Λειοντισ[ ] [ εὑ]=
ρὼν μοιχο[---]
κατέκτανε [---]


Translation: Leontis[kos?], finding an adulterer, killed [him].
Findspot: Smyrna, Basilica (Agora.1)
Language: Greek
Writing Style: charcoal
  • Graffito Height: 19
  • Graffito Length: 48
  • Min Letter Height: 4.5
  • Max Letter Height: 4.5
Apparatus Criticus: The last preserved letter is definitely sigma rather than omicron. The participle shows that the name is not the feminine Λεοντίς, but either Λεόντι(ο)ς or Λεοντίσκος can be intended. Both names are moderately common in Ionia and elsewhere in Asia Minor (see LGPN 5A 265, 5B 256), but only the second is known so far at Smyrna. 2. As the length of the lacuna is not determinable, it is not obvious whether we should restore only a nu or imagine something more. At a minimalist restoration, Λεοντίσκος εὑ|ρὼν μοιχὸν| κατέκτανε αὐτόν?. But an adverb could easily be added in line 2.
Bibliography: Bagnall, R. S. et al., Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna (2016): 100.
Bagnall, R., Everyday Writing in the Graeco-Roman East (2011): 16.
SEG 61.959.
Commentary: Below T6.1 but above and partly to the right of the ship is a graffito in multiple hands, in bad condition. It is not possible to tell whether there are multiple graffiti over one another or a dialogical graffiti conversation, and it is at times difficult to distinguish ship’s rigging from letter strokes.
Suggested Citation: AGP-SMYT00061, The Ancient Graffiti Project, <https://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-SMYT00061> [accessed: 22 Nov 2024]
Contributions:

Editor: Roger S. Bagnall

Principal Contributor: Roger S. Bagnall

Last Revision: 2016-10-03