The Curious Case of Kom Aushim Inv. no. 45: The Rediscovery of a Fragment from a Lost Inscription?

Abstract

Kom Aushim inv. 45 is a fragment from a larger Greek inscription on basalt. This fragment was acquired by the Kom Aushim (Karanis) magazine in 1999 when it was seized by Egyptian police off the antiquities market. Owing to some very specific parallels this fragment shares with a previously published inscription, I.Fayum 17 (= SB I 624), it seems likely it once was a part of this inscription but is a broken off fragment. This article therefore offers an updated transcription and investigation of the inscription since the last reported sighting of this piece was in 1908 in Fayum City.