The rock is close to the one on which inscription no. 539 is engraved; it measures 1.20 m in height and 0.95 m in length.
The inscription is located 50 cm from the upper edge and 5 cm from the left edge. The direction runs from left to right, with a descending and undulating ductus, which, in the verb ο̄ἴπω and from the name Κρίμον onwards, tends to rise.
Letters of the archaic alphabet of Thera: Alpha: right stroke divergent, diagonal crossbar; Epsilon: vertical stroke extended downward, oblique strokes; Eta: represented as a closed rectangular with orizontal crossbar; Theta: circle with cross-shaped bars; Iota: featuring three strokes; Mu: fourth bar shorter; Ny: third stroke is shorter and divergent; Omicron: smaller than the other letters; Rho: rounded bowl; San: used for the sibilant sound.
At 24 cm from the lower edge, the lambda is preceded by a sharply cut, non-natural rectangular hole, similar to others found near the temple of Apollo Karneios and in the southernmost area of the promontory.
Encoded following the latest EpiDoc guidelines
Taxonomies for ThERA controlled values
ThERA anthroponyms authority list
ThERA theonyms authority list
Julian Calendar
Regarding the nature of the verb οἴφω, see IThera030 commentary. Gallavotti (1978-1979, pp. 58-60) recognized a rhythmic structure based on Hiller’s reading: Ἀμοτίωνα ὦιπ(h)ε Κρίμων [τ]ε(ῖ)δ[ε]. The scholar compares this first meter to the early inscription of Nestor on the cup at Pithecussa, which, in his view, resembles it especially due to the hiatus at the caesura. Gallavotti (1975, pp. 185-191) also notes that "the accusative case of the name, placed emphatically at the beginning of the phrase against normal usage, gives the phrase a certain vigor." [this author's translation from Italian] The incipit with ὦιπ(h)ε could be an indication that the reader wants to immediately associate the text with its function.