MAMA XI 376 (Southern Lykaonia) 
Funerary stele of M. Numerius
- Type of monument:
- Funerary stele.
- Location:
- Karaağaç (Southern Lykaonia): in a yard.
- Description:
- Brown limestone stele, complete. Arched panel with standing male figure at left, wearing toga and heavy boots; right arm bent across chest, hand concealed in folds of toga. With his left hand (apparently reworked), the figure is passing a plain rectangular object to a small male figure at bottom right, who himself is holding a pointed object with a flared end in his left hand. Plain pilasters to left and right, with stylised capitals. Inscription on lower frame, between guidelines.
- Dimensions:
- Ht. 0.54; W. 0.34; Th. 0.20; letters 0.015-0.020.
- Record:
- Squeeze; AH notebook copy; photograph (1957/57=5842).
- Publication:
- None.
- Date:
- Roman imperial period.
Μ̣(ᾶρκον) Νουμέριον
Γ(αΐου) Ἀουιλίου (?) ἡ γυνὴ
μνήμης χ v. ά v. ριν.
His wife (set this up for) M(arcus) Numerius, son of G(aius) Avilius (?), in memoriam.
Illustrations:
MAMA XI 376 (Southern Lykaonia 8: 1957-57)
Squeeze of MAMA XI 376 (Southern Lykaonia 8: 1957-57)
The first letter of line 1, which ought to be an abbreviated praenomen, appears as a ‘V’ shape in Ballance’s photograph; faint vertical strokes to left and right are visible on the squeeze, suggesting that this may be a mu. In line 2, the reading ΓΑΟΥΙΛΙΟΥ is certain, but it is not clear what name this represents. A name *Gavilius seems to be unattested elsewhere; hence I have assumed that Numerius’ father is also given his praenomen, Γ. Ἀουιλίου. The name Avil(l)ius is not widespread in the East (though cf. e.g. SEG 19, 846: Andeda), and it is tempting to read the common name Avidius (Ἀουιδ̣ίου: for confusion between the two names, cf. Eck 1970: 74 n.41) but the lambda seems clear on Ballance’s photograph. In line 3, the final word (χάριν) is widely spaced in order to avoid natural holes in the stone.
The accompanying relief depicts a male figure, presumably the deceased, passing a rectangular object to a small male figure (probably a slave rather than a male child), who is holding a pointed object with a flared end in his left hand. Dr J. Masséglia suggests (per litt.) that the rectangular object may be a folded writing-tablet and the pointed object a stylus.
The village of Karaağaç lies around 7km SE of Akçaşehir and 9km SW of Anbar. To the best of my knowledge, the two inscriptions published here (cf. MAMA XI 377) are the first known from the village.