Stone figure - help needed

AHorsa · 6th February 2018, 05:48 PM

Dear all,

recently got this stone sculpture.
It is ca 14cm high. On the bottom someone marked it "Tunisie" with a biro. That also would fit the depiction, which looks maybe like a stylized maure or nubian?
The material seems to be a cristalline stone, but on some party the surface looks a bit like it has a chalky crust. I added a picture made with an USB-microscope of the stone´s structure.

On the back you find latin letters engraved. Interesting fact is, that the letter "w" was invented in the 13th century.

Maybe you can help me: Is this a tourist fake or old? And if so, how old could it be and what could be the background of the latin letters in a muslim region?

Looking forward to your answers.

Kind regards
Andreas

AHorsa · 6th February 2018, 05:54 PM

and the microscope image

fernando · 6th February 2018, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHorsa

... and what could be the background of the latin letters in an muslim region?...

Sorry my ignorance Andreas but, maybe you should go further back in time, before the Arabs went in; when Tunisia was Carthage, having been occupied by the Romans after the Punic wars and then fully latinized.
Could this be a replica of one of their deities ?

.

AHorsa · 6th February 2018, 07:42 PM

Hi Fernando,

thanks for your reply. Of course I am aware that the region was Carthage in the ancient world. But as far as I know, the letter "w" arised in the mediaeval times. So if it is a replica of some ancient godness, it´s a bit ragged

fernando · 6th February 2018, 08:25 PM

Well, i was focusing on the riddle "Latin script in Muslim lands". I will leave te W for others to digest. In any case, with or without the W, can you make a phrase out of that inscription?

AHorsa · 6th February 2018, 08:34 PM

It means "we [don´t want] no war"

No, I´ve no idea, as it seems that the inscription is only preserved fragmentarily (or should seem so)

6th February 2018, 05:48 PM	#1
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 367	Stone figure - help needed Dear all, recently got this stone sculpture. It is ca 14cm high. On the bottom someone marked it "Tunisie" with a biro. That also would fit the depiction, which looks maybe like a stylized maure or nubian? The material seems to be a cristalline stone, but on some party the surface looks a bit like it has a chalky crust. I added a picture made with an USB-microscope of the stone´s structure. On the back you find latin letters engraved. Interesting fact is, that the letter "w" was invented in the 13th century. Maybe you can help me: Is this a tourist fake or old? And if so, how old could it be and what could be the background of the latin letters in a muslim region? Looking forward to your answers. Kind regards Andreas Attached Images Last edited by AHorsa; 6th February 2018 at 07:45 PM.

6th February 2018, 05:54 PM	#2
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 367	and the microscope image Attached Images

6th February 2018, 07:42 PM	#4
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 367	Hi Fernando, thanks for your reply. Of course I am aware that the region was Carthage in the ancient world. But as far as I know, the letter "w" arised in the mediaeval times. So if it is a replica of some ancient godness, it´s a bit ragged

6th February 2018, 08:25 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Well, i was focusing on the riddle "Latin script in Muslim lands". I will leave te W for others to digest. In any case, with or without the W, can you make a phrase out of that inscription?

6th February 2018, 08:34 PM	#6
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 367	It means "we [don´t want] no war" No, I´ve no idea, as it seems that the inscription is only preserved fragmentarily (or should seem so)