----- Original Message -----
From: "Wieland Willker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "B-Greek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: "Papy-list" <[email protected]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 7:23 AM
Subject: [ANE-2] RE: Mysterious CRESTOU inscription


I have asked "Der Spiegel" and they sent me an image of the back.
Thank you very much!


Have a look here:
http://tinyurl.com/6amr2e

What does that mean?
Comments welcome!

Best wishes
   Wieland
      <><


I think the goblet refers to wine and states "enchantment through
excellence."  I am puzzled by the claim that the inscription was done before
firing since the brown slip appears flaked by the stylus suggesting it was
dried.  The hand could also be 2nd to 3rd century, to me, so I would like to
know more about the stratigraphic context that places it on the ground of
the 1st century harbor.  In my opinion, if the provenance is correct,
reference to XRISTOS is highly unlikely for the first half of the first
century.  I think XRHSTOS (excellent, good) is correct but the eta/iota
shift is in O GO(H)ISTAIS.  Alexandrian Koine is noted for provincialisms
and archaisms.

Come to think of it, that wouldn't be a bad slogan for a modern wine
producer.

Jack Kilmon

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