Publication
Paris 1884: 233-4, no. 1; Ramsay, Phrygia II 385, no. 231; (Frey 1952: 761; Sheppard 1979: 174-5; Trebilco 1991: 70, no. 4.3; IJO II, p.394 n. 148).
Commentary
A place in Gaius’ tomb is reserved for his friend Onesimos and his wife (Robert, Hellenica XI/XII, 423 n.3). For this phenomenon at Eumeneia, compare the Christian epitaph IGR IV 731 (Robert 1963: 361-5), in which Aur. Nikeros reserves a place in his tomb for his friend Aur. Mannos, a Christian horse-archer from Edessa (ἔθηκα δέ φίλον· ἐνθάδε κεκήδευτε Αὐρ Μάννος κτλ.). In MAMA IV 343, the weaver Attalos sets up a gravestone for his friend Iulius; in Drew-Bear 1978: 97-8, IV 34 (SEG 28, 1125), Severus Argentis admits the cabbage-seller Theodotos to his tomb. Cf. also MAMA IV 358 (Aur. Agapomenos and Aur. Artemidoros); [MAMA XI 36] (1954/14).
The verb ἀνασκευάσαι (lines 9-10) is very rare in this context; see also TAM IV 1, 376 (Nikomedeia: Robert, Hellenica XI/XII, 386-92). On the curse-formula in lines 11-12 (frequently, but not invariably, Jewish), see Robert, Hellenica XI/XII, 390; Robert, OMS V, 738-9; Trebilco 1991: 69-74; Strubbe 1994: 73-83; Strubbe 1997: 197-8, no. 290; IJO II, pp. 346-7, 394. For the concluding formula ὁ βιὸς ταῦτα, ‘such is life’ (lines 14-15), see Robert, Hellenica XI/XII, 426 n.5; Hellenica 13, 185-6, 272-3; OMS V, 328.