The graffiti are located on the same rock surface but in different positions. Αἴνησις θαλερός is written retrograde, and is arranged on two lines near the lower part of the rock (the first word is positioned 73 cm from the upper edge, and the second at 85 cm). Μενιάδας πρᾶτος, also on two lines but irregularly boustrophedon, is placed to the left of the previous lines and runs vertically along the left margin of the rock surface, which was used as a guideline.
Letters of the archaic alphabet of Thera: Alpha (l. 3): regular bars. Alpha (l. 4): left stroke divergent, diagonal crossbar. Epsilon (l. 5): vertical stroke protruding at the bottom, oblique bars. Eta: represented as a closed rectangular with orizontal crossbar. Theta: circle with cross-shaped bars inside. Iota (l. 3): three curvilinear bars. Iota (l. 5): three bars. Pi (l. 6): hook-shaped. Rho (l. 6): angular bowl. San: used for the sibilant sound.
Encoded following the latest EpiDoc guidelines
Taxonomies for ThERA controlled values
ThERA anthroponyms authority list
ThERA theonyms authority list
Julian Calendar
Πρᾶτος (Doric for Πρῶτος) as a proper name is attested in a couple of cases in Greece (in Acarnania and Kamarina; the form Πρῶτος is more widespread). As the first element of an anthroponym, it appears both in inscription no. 1446 (Πρατόλοϙhος) and in the inscription engraved on a «elongated tablet of black volcanic stone» (Hiller), no. 1616 (Πρατοθέμιος). In our case, Πρᾶτος could be considered either an anthroponym or an adjective; the latter hypothesis is possible based on the fact that it is used in the superlative πράτιστος in both inscription no. 540 (line 3), and in the inscription no. 1324. Moreover, the first anthroponym is followed by the adjective, so this could be a similar case. The name Αἴνησις occurs once in Thera; it is attested once in Rhodes (at Kamiros, 190 BCE). The form Αἰνησις is recorded in Crete (one instance from the 1st century BCE) and in Kos (one instance from 200 CE). It is worth noting that in Thera there is another case where the name has Αἰνησ- as its first element (no. 1422 Αἰνησίλα). The adjective θαλερός (flourishing, vigorous) has no other parallels in the Theran documentation. Μενιάδας is attested in this form only in Thera, whereas it is more common in Greece in the Ionic form Μενιάδης.