Finds from Miletus XXX. An Early Archaic Sheet Gold Fragment from Miletus with an Epichoric Inscription

Abstract

A small piece of sheet gold from the sanctuary of Aphrodite on Zeytintepe in Miletus carries a relief depicting a seated sphinx. Stylistic analysis indicates a Greek work that probably originates from Miletus in the 3rd quarter of the 7th century B.C. An inscription at the right-hand edge is one of the oldest Archaic specimens of writing from southwest Asia Minor. It has so far not been possible to ascribe the writing convincingly to any of the languages attested for this region. In this article the epigraphic evidence is documented in as much detail as possible. Interpretation must be left to specialists in the epichoric inscriptions of Asia Minor.