Neg A III
| Transliteration | i : parnpeisvnp |
|---|---|
| Object | bronze helmet |
| Script | Rhaetic alphabet |
| Language | unknown |
| Writing direction | sinistroverse |
| Technique | incised |
| Condition | non-fragmentary |
| Findspot | Ženjak |
| Archaeological context | to be inserted |
| Archaeological culture | to be inserted |
| Date | 4th-3rd c. BC |
Original text
Commentary
The inscription, 8 cm in length, is located on the chamfer of the Negau helmet A. Nedoma (1995) argues the location indicates a profane function, as votive helmet inscriptions are normally applied prominently on the bowl. The inscription is proceeded by Neg A Ia, separated by a punctuation mark of four small dots, and followed by Neg A Ic.
The first hasta in the inscription resembles a crooked iota, which appears to have been jammed between the punctuation and the alpha. What is more likely is that it belongs to the first hasta of the alpha, whose diagonal hasta is scratched twice as well. Following that is a rho, engraved with a curve, as opposed to the one in Neg A Ia. This supports the theory that the two inscriptions were written by two different people (see Neg A Ia). The next few lines are difficult to decipher and it is uncertain whether what is depicted is a single letter or a sequence of two. If we attempt a segmentation, the first character resembles either a pi or a lambda. The second resembles either a tau, if we assume its left bar is unintentional, or, alternatively, a so-called arrowhead tau denoting a dental affricate. Interpreting the lines as a single letter, san seems possible, but unlikely considering the fact that the bar of the second hasta is prolonged at an angle, which suggests it was done after the right bar of the next letter was seen to merge with it. Marstrander's (1927) suggestion of a nu being corrected into san would explain the questionable left bar of the second hasta. Any kind of potentially similar ligature is not attested. The following epsilon, iota, sigma and digamma are fairly well legible. The inscription concludes with two crooked vertical lines, which have been read as iota (Mommsen, Pauli: 36, no. 99a, Kretschmer 1943: 187, Markey 2001), upsilon (Egg 1986: 227, no. 324), although this is very unlikely considering the other instances of upsilon on the helmet, or been interpreted as a demarcation sign added to separate the inscription from Neg A Ic (Marstrander 1927: 6). The bar branching away from the left scratch, mentioned and dismissed by Marstrander, is clearly unintentional.
Marstrander's interpretation of the last element implies that Neg A Ic is older than Neg A Ib.
Epigraphically, the inscription is likely to be Rhaetic, but retrograde alpha is also found in Venetic inscriptions of the Isonzo-area.
Due to the difficult reading, no linguistic interpretation of the text can be offered.
Bibliography
Egg, Markus (1986). Italische Helme. Studien zu den ältereisenzeitlichen Helmen Italiens und der Alpen. Teil 1: Text, Teil 2: Tafeln. Mainz: Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, pp. 614-620.
Kretschmer, Paul (1943). Die vorgriechischen Sprach- und Volksschichten (Fortsetzung). Glotta 30, pp. 84–218.
Marstrander, Carl (1925). Les inscriptions des casques de Negau, Styrie. Symbolae Osloensis 3, pp. 37–64.
Marstrander, Carl (1927). Remarques sur les inscriptions des casques en bronze de Negau et de Watsch. Avhandlinger utgitt av Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi i Oslo. Hist.-filos. klasse 1926/2, pp. 1–26.
Giovanelli, Benedetto (1876). Die Rhätisch-Etruskischen Alterthümer entdeckt bei Matrei im Mai 1845. Zeitschrift des Ferdinandeums für Tirol und Vorarlberg 3/20, pp. 45–99.
Hormayr, Joseph (1823). Wien, seine Geschichte und seine Denkwürdigkeiten. Wien: Franz Härter, p. 143
