Translation - Μετάφραση

Translation Assistance => Other language pairs => Ancient Greek→English translation forum => Topic started by: on 28 Jan, 2006, 09:59:42

Title: TBO OICOV NIKA
Post by: on 28 Jan, 2006, 09:59:42

Hi, I've bought an Ancient Greek (Byzantine) Ring from a dealer in Jerusalem.
It appears to have = TBO OICOV NIKA written on the bezel.

I don't know the greek letters but, the first letter looks like a backward T (missing the right hand side of the top stroke) followed by a letter that looks like a slim B the O and perhaps another letter which is not clear. The second line starts with an O with a slash through it followed by an I C O V
The third line looks like NIK followed by an A that looks more like a triangle.

All letters are in capitals.

If you can assist me with a translation I would be eternally grateful.
I can email you a picture if you need it.

Thanks and best wishes,
Bruce (Australia)

Title: Απ: TBO OICOV NIKA
Post by: wings on 28 Jan, 2006, 10:04:53

Hi Bruce.

The first two words make no sense to me. A picture would help a lot because if these are Byzantine letters, they can confuse any non-Greek reader.

Title: Re: TBO OICOV NIKA
Post by: billberg23 on 03 Feb, 2006, 19:51:28

Bruce, Vicky is absolutely right:  a picture (preferably a photo) is essential before we can attempt an interpretation.  Time passes, however, and the inscription becomes more and more intriguing, prompting such idle speculation as the following:
The inscription actually reads GROMPHISOU NIKA (apologies for the Greeklish;  the converter wouldn't help here), "Winner of the javelin-throw" (lit. "He is winner at the javelin-throw").  "Gromphos" is a type of javelin mentioned in Hellenistic authors (Polybius, Strabo).  "Gromphisis" (by analogy with "akontisis") refers to a contest of javelin-throwing.  We are bothered by the genitive ending -OU rather than the correct -EOS, but such mixed inflection may have passed in Byzantine times.  Those of you in Greece who have access to proper source materials may have more to say about that.  The same goes for my groundless assumption that such a sports victory could be commemorated by a ring in the (early?) Byzantine period.  Here on the flooded, storm-blasted Oregon coast, access to a good research library is out of the question.
Of course, the above interpretation could be torpedoed instantly by a photo of the ring and its inscription—especially if the ring turns out to be sized for a woman's (or child's) finger!  So please post the picture at your earliest convenience.  Expectantly, Bill