Question from a Private Consultation
Description: Ex lamella 1506-1509
Dialect: Thessalian/Boiotian?
Alphabet: TBD
Date: After the introduction of the Ionic alphabet in Thessalian or Boeotian (spelling)
Findspot: Sanctuary of Zeus, 1930-1933
Original location: Dodona
Last recorded location: Museum of Ioannina, M570
Edition: Gonzalez/DOL
Text constituted from: DVC (facsimile)
Bibliography
DVC 1509B
Apparatus
1: Traces of indistinct inscriptions in the same side of the tablet. As the inscriptions on face A show, the left end of the tablet is missing, and maybe part of the inscription is now lost. In that case, a different word-break can not be excluded (ἐν γένει ΤΑ[—]).
French translation
Est-ce possible?
English translation
Is it possible?
Commentary
The spelling ει points to a Thessalian or Boeotian origin of the enquirer. DVC consider that the inscription did not continue along the lost part of the tablet (but see apparatus criticus) and do not exclude the possibility that the inscription is an affirmative answer from the oracle. In case that the text is actually complete, the subjunctive form of the verb would rather support the interpretation of the inscription as a brief enquiry regarding the existence or feasibility of something. See also 1077, 2247 and 3012, with similar formulation.
Dodona Online (DOL) 