Silver Mastos Cup with Onasas Inscription

Silver mastos cup with Cypriot Syllabic inscription recording the name of a priest, Onasas; ovoid body with a rounded base and plain rim, lower part of the body on one side is broken away. Apart form the missing portions of the cup, the surface of the metal is otherwise in good condition.

The Cypriot Syllabic inscription on the base was revealed after cleaning and then further ellucidated with specialist photography and X-ray. A total of fourteen characters, written from right to left, can now be read, though some are very faint and the text breaks off on the left side. Perna reconstructs the text as 'belonging to Onasas, the priest of...'

Dimensions: Diameter: 8.75 centimetres; Height: 6.80 centimetres

Object Type: cup

Techniques: beaten; incised

Inscription: Inscription type: inscription Inscription position: base Inscription language: Cypriot Greek Inscription script: Cypriot Syllabic Inscription transliteration: o-na-sa-to-se to-i-e-re-wo-se ta-sa [...] Inscription translation: 'Belonging to Onasas, the priest of...' Inscription note: The final character is not well preserved and could not be read

Condition: The surviving parts of the vase have been re-assembled, though one fragment (with several faint syllabic signs) is now detached.

Classical

1896,0201.337