Lot Essay
PUBLISHED:
A. Lemaire, "Nouvelle Inscription Neo-Punique sur Jarre" in Rivista di studi Fenici, Vol. XXII, no. 1, 1994, pp. 71-74, pls. 2-4
Judging from the inscription, this jar probably served as a funerary urn for 'Felix'. Such jars with funerary inscriptions are unusual yet known in the Punic world. Inscriptions were often written in ink, but sometimes incised after firing, which would have required considerable skill.
The name Felix, well known in Roman Africa, was used for both sexes. One can interpret this inscription either as indicating that the jar belonging to his mother Naamatgadda, is for Felix her son who died young or, that this jar is for Naamatgadda (a woman's name meaning "Fortune has been favourable") whose Roman name 'Felix' is semantically close.
A. Lemaire, "Nouvelle Inscription Neo-Punique sur Jarre" in Rivista di studi Fenici, Vol. XXII, no. 1, 1994, pp. 71-74, pls. 2-4
Judging from the inscription, this jar probably served as a funerary urn for 'Felix'. Such jars with funerary inscriptions are unusual yet known in the Punic world. Inscriptions were often written in ink, but sometimes incised after firing, which would have required considerable skill.
The name Felix, well known in Roman Africa, was used for both sexes. One can interpret this inscription either as indicating that the jar belonging to his mother Naamatgadda, is for Felix her son who died young or, that this jar is for Naamatgadda (a woman's name meaning "Fortune has been favourable") whose Roman name 'Felix' is semantically close.