Research Article

A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos

Volume: 30 November 11, 2025
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A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos

Abstract

More than fifty years ago, a Greek-Sidetic votive inscription known as the Euempolos Bilingual (S6 = I.1.3) was uncovered in the ancient city of Lyrbe. The poor condition of the stone’s surface, along with the low quality of the available photographs, has hindered a reliable reading of some parts of the inscription. The Sidetic adaptation of the dedicator’s name, corresponding to the Greek PN Εὐέμπολος, is the most damaged section, as two deep fractures have caused the loss of the lower strokes of the central letters. In addition, since this personal name is a hapax, no comparisons are available for its reconstruction within the Sidetic corpus. These challenges have presented scholars from reaching a conclusive explanation. After reviewing the various proposals put forward thus far, I will conduct an epigraphic analysis of this name and suggest a new reading based on the identification of the second letter as sign no. 6 w. Despite representing the most suitable candidate from a palaeographic point of view, this sign was never considered at the time the text was established, as its phonetic value had not been correctly deciphered. The proposed new reading also offers, in my opinion, a more phonologically appropriate form, since it is more economical compared to the Greek counterpart and more consistent with Sidetic evidence. Moreover, it is likely to be closer to the neighbouring Pamphylian Greek dialect, as is often the case with Greek onomastic adaptations in this language.

Keywords

References

  1. Adiego, I.-X. 2014. “Las inscripciones plurilingües en Asia Menor: hacia una clasificación tipológica y un análisis funcional.” In: W. Eck – P. Funke (edd.), Öffentlichkeit - Monument - Text: XIV Congressus Internationalis Epigraphiae Graecae et Latinae. 27.-31. Augusti MMXII. Akten. Berlin/Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 231-269.
  2. Brandenstein, W. 1958. “Sprache und Schrift von Side in Pamphylien.” In: E. Grumach (ed.), Minoica. Festschrift zum 80. Geburtstag von Johannes Sundwall. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 80-91.
  3. Brixhe, C. 1976. Le dialecte grec de Pamphylie. Documents et grammaire. Paris: A. Maisonneuve.
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  5. Brixhe, C. 2018. “L’identité de Sidé. Entre vérité et réalisme politique: de la légende à l’histoire et à la langue.” Kadmos 57: 137-174.
  6. Brixhe, C. – Neumann, G. 1988. “Die griechisch-sidetische Bilingue von Seleukeia.” Kadmos 27: 35-43.
  7. Brixhe, C. – Tekoğlu, R. 2000. “Corpus des inscriptions dialectales de Pamphylie. Supplément V.” Kadmos 39: 1-56.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Latin and Classical Greek Languages , Language Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

November 11, 2025

Submission Date

January 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 17, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 30

APA
Ferrer, G. (2025). A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos. Gephyra, 30, 13-22. https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.1624533
AMA
1.Ferrer G. A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos. GEPHYRA. 2025;30:13-22. doi:10.37095/gephyra.1624533
Chicago
Ferrer, Gem. 2025. “A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos”. Gephyra 30 (November): 13-22. https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.1624533.
EndNote
Ferrer G (November 1, 2025) A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos. Gephyra 30 13–22.
IEEE
[1]G. Ferrer, “A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos”, GEPHYRA, vol. 30, pp. 13–22, Nov. 2025, doi: 10.37095/gephyra.1624533.
ISNAD
Ferrer, Gem. “A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos”. Gephyra 30 (November 1, 2025): 13-22. https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.1624533.
JAMA
1.Ferrer G. A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos. GEPHYRA. 2025;30:13–22.
MLA
Ferrer, Gem. “A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos”. Gephyra, vol. 30, Nov. 2025, pp. 13-22, doi:10.37095/gephyra.1624533.
Vancouver
1.Gem Ferrer. A New Reading Proposal for the Sidetic Adaptation of the Greek PN Euempolos. GEPHYRA. 2025 Nov. 1;30:13-22. doi:10.37095/gephyra.1624533