VA·13
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Reading in transliteration: | polios |
| Reading in original script: |      
|
|
| |
| Object: | VA·13 Arsago Seprio (bowl) |
| Position: | bottom, outside |
| Orientation: | 180° |
| Direction of writing: | dextroverse |
| Script: | North Italic script |
| Number of letters: | 6 |
| Number of words: | 1 |
| Number of lines: | 1 |
| Workmanship: | scratched |
| Condition: | complete |
|
| |
| Archaeological culture: | Augustan [from object] |
| Date of inscription: | late 1st c. BC [from object] |
|
| |
| Type: | unknown |
| Language: | perhaps Celtic |
| Meaning: | 'Polios' |
|
| |
| Alternative sigla: | Morandi 2004: 113 |
|
| |
| Sources: | Morandi 2004: 599 f. no. 113 |
Images
 Inscription VA·13 from Morandi 2004
|
 Inscription VA·13 from Morandi
|
 Patera VA·13 Arsago Seprio with inscription VA·13
|
 Inscription VA·13
|
Commentary
First published in Morandi 2004: 599 f., no. 113.
Images in Morandi 2001: 12, no. 4 (drawing), Morandi 2004: 603, fig. 16.113 (drawing) and tav. XVI.113 (photo).
Inscribed upside-down on the bottom of the bowl. Pi and iota are considerably taller than the other letters; the lines of the first omicron are also prolonged at the bottom. Sigma has four bars according to Morandi, taking into account the slight curve of the bottom scratch; 
seems also possible.
polios is a masculine personal name which finds comparanda in Celtic context, but not necessarily of Celtic origin (see the word page); Morandi 2004 alternatively compares Greek πολιός 'grey'. Cf. publius polio on a 2nd c. Roman stela from nearby Sesto Calende (Sartori 2009b: 464 f., SC14.03).
From the same grave comes a terra sigillata cup (Goudineau 2) with a stamp attributable to C. Sertorius Ocella (OCK 1912, 40–15 BC), from the associated ustrinum fragments of two more terra sigillata vessels with stamps of Macer (OCK 1078) and Saluius (OCK 1775/1776/1777) (Volontè Fredini 1990: 70).
