Mich. 26069

Obv. τὸ προσκύνημα Εὐποσίας. προσκύνημα literally “obeisance,” and hence, in a general sense, an act of worship. Visitors at Egyptian temples were wont to commemorate their pilgrimage by an inscription on the temple wall or some neighboring monument; it might be τὸ προσκύνημα ἐποίησα παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, with the worshiper's name, but much more frequently the phrase is simply τό προσκύνημα followed by the worshiper's name in the genitive. The use of the formula on a ring stone seems to show that the ring was dedicated in a temple as the offering of Euposia. This name occurs elsewhere, though rarely. Another explanation of this inscription is less probable. One might suppose that a friend or a relative of Euposia performed an act of worship in her name, a custom attested by many inscriptions, and commemorated it by having the stone engraved and sent to Euposia, who would understand it to mean τὸ προσκύνημα Εὐποσίας ἐποίησα παρὰ τῷ θεῷ. The objection to this explanation is that such words are normally inscribed in the precincts of a temple, not elsewhere. If the ring was not left there, the phrase becomes little more than one of compliment or affection, as it is in fact often employed at the opening of personal letters, the writers of which certainly did not worship in a temple every time that they used the words.

Rev. Plain.

Red jasper. Transverse oval, 12 Χ 9 Χ 3. Enlarged 2 X 1.