VB·11

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Inscription
Reading in transliteration:	sabi
Reading in original script:
Object:	VB·11 Ornavasso (cup)
Position:	foot, outside
Direction of writing:	dextroverse
Script:	Latin script
Letter height:	1.8–3.5 cm0.709 in <br />1.378 in <br />
Number of letters:	4
Number of words:	1
Number of lines:	1
Workmanship:	scratched after firing
Condition:	complete
Archaeological culture:	Roman imperial period [from object]
Date of inscription:	55–90 AD [from object]
Type:	prob. mark of possessor
Language:	perhaps Celtic
Meaning:	abbreviation (?)
Alternative sigla:	Whatmough 1933 (PID): 314 Morandi 2004: 56
Sources:	Morandi 2004: 557 f. no. 56

Commentary

First published in Bianchetti 1895: 69 (no. 15). Examined for LexLep on 20^th April 2024.

Inscribed in large letters of the foot of the cup (length 4 cm); the alphabet is Latin. Kretschmer 1905: 98, no. 15, and Rhŷs 1913: 60 compare VB·8 sa, which could, but does not have to be an abbreviation of the same name. sabi itself may be an abbreviation, but is more likely to be a genitive (cf. VB·12 and VB·13, found in the same grave, as well as VB·14, VB·15), hence our classification as an owner's inscription. Whether the name is Celtic is doubtful (see further on the word page). A connection with sapsutai in VB·3.1, suggested by Tibiletti Bruno 1978: 146, is improbable due to /s/ in the latter form.

See also Piana Agostinetti 1972: ???, Piana Agostinetti 1997–1999 II: 140, III: 405 f., in IV Morandi 1999b: 327, no. 18.

Corinna Salomon

Bibliography

Bianchetti 1895	Enrico Bianchetti, I sepolcreti di Ornavasso [= Atti della Società di Archeologia e Belle Arti della provincia di Torino 6], Torino: Paravia 1895.
Danielsson 1909	Olof August Danielsson, Zu den venetischen und lepontischen Inschriften [= Skrifter utgivna av Kungliga Humanistiska Vetenskaps-Samfundet i Uppsala 13.1], Uppsala – Leipzig: 1909.