Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (5.1886-1890)

4-2

A NEW SIKYONIAN INSCRIPTION.

iota, the closed spiritus asper, the older theta, certain peculiar forms of
gamma (C, <, I), and remarkable forms to express /3 and the E-sounds
(&, B, or X9) appear; secondly, that comprising inscriptions "which
exhibit the straight iota but retain the san" (p. 135); thirdly, that
comprising inscriptions marked by, (1) "the adoption of the four-stroke
sigma," (2) " the gradual substitution of the open H for the closed
form," (3) " the introduction of the normal form for /3 " (p. 135). The
first of these periods is to be placed as early as the sixth century b. c,
the second would correspond to the earlier half of the fifth century,
and the third to the latter half of the same century.10

In view of the arguments adduced in the course of the previous
discussion, we seem justified in attributing to Sikyon both the spear-
head inscriptions already alluded to (J. G.A., 17, and 27a Add.). In
one of these the form t appears, and in both we have san. These,
then, are plainly older than I. G. A. SI and 22, which must be classed
together and are to be assigned to the earlier half of the fifth cen-
tury. Certainly later than these, again, is our new inscription, between
which and those just mentioned I am in favor of dating I. G. A. 27c
Add., which is, then, probably to be restored: §XKVONIO[N or
3XKVONIO[l.u In both these last we find X retained, though in the
former we have alpha and happa of later form than in any other early
Sikyonian inscription, and even later than in I. G. A., 26a Add., a
Corinthian inscription commemorating the battle of Tanagra (457 b.c.).
In the last-mentioned, however, we have the normal e, and a, v, and %
of the same form as in our new inscription. In view of the latter
coincidence, as well as of the conservatism of the Sikyonians, we need
have no hesitation in placing our inscription at least as late as 457 B. c,
and probably somewhat later. In fact, I would propose the following
chronological classification of early Sikyonian inscriptions:

I period, latter part of sixth century b. c. (J. G.A. 17 and 27a Add.);
ii period, first half of fifth century b. c. (I. G. A. 21, 22);

in period, middle and latter half of fifth century b. c. (I. G. A. 27a
Add. and the new inscription).

Mortimer Lamson Earle.

Columbia College, New York.
December, 1888.

'"X at Sicyon, at least in the 2d period.''

10 For the grounds of this chronology, which seems very satisfactory, see Roberts,
p. 136.

II Cf. Roehl's remarks ad he.