VA·23
From Lexicon Leponticum
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Reading in transliteration: | etu |
| Reading in original script: |   
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| Variant reading: | atu
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| Object: | VA·23 Arsago Seprio (unidentifiable) |
| Position: | unknown |
| Direction of writing: | dextroverse |
| Script: | North Italic script (Lepontic alphabet) |
| Number of letters: | 3 |
| Number of words: | 1 |
| Number of lines: | 1 |
| Workmanship: | scratched |
| Condition: | complete |
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| |
| Archaeological culture: | La Tène D [from object] |
| Date of inscription: | late 2nd–1st c. BC [from object] |
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| Type: | unknown |
| Language: | prob. Celtic |
| Meaning: | 'Etu' or 'Atu' (?) |
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| Alternative sigla: | Morandi 2004: 123 |
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| Sources: | Morandi 2004: 605 no. 123 |
Images
 Inscription VA·23 from Morandi
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 Inscription VA·23 from Morandi
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 Fragment VA·23 Arsago Seprio with inscription VA·23
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Commentary
First published in Volontè Fredini 1990: 68, 72.
Images in Veronesi 1990: tav. XXIVc (drawing), Morandi 2004: 609, fig. 17.123 (drawing) and tav. XIX.123 (photo).
The reading etu is given by Volontè Fredini and Morandi, both from the object; atu is suggested by Solinas 1995: 384 (based on the drawing in Veronesi) and Martin Braun (based on Morandi's photo, where the upper bar of putative epsilon appears more faint and quite close to the second bar). Considering that the two readings from examination agree, and also that the surface of the fragment does not appear to bear any other deep scratches, etu must be preferred (but cf. VA·14).
Both forms can be analysed as Celtic personal names (see the word pages).
