BZ-2

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Inscription
Transliteration:	enikes
Original script:
Object:	BZ-2 axe (bronze)
Position:	proximal, lateral
Script:	North Italic script
Direction of writing:	ambiguous
Letter height:	1.11.1 cm <br /> – 1.7 cm
Number of letters:	6
Number of lines:	1
Craftsmanship:	embossed
Current condition:	complete, restored
Archaeological culture:	Hallstatt D, La Tène A [from object]
Date of inscription:	5th century BC [from object]
Date derived from:	typology [from object]
Language:	Raetic
Meaning:	'of Enike'
Alternative sigla:	PID 190 LIR BZ-18 MLR 277
Sources:	Schumacher 2004: 178

Commentary

First published in Campi 1901: 6. Autopsied by TIR in November 2013.

Image in LIR (drawing).

Length 2.6 cm. The orientation of the inscription is ambiguous: Either or is written upside-down. Above representation chooses the sinistroverse reading because of its statistical prevalence and the more usual orientation of . The execution of the strokes, on the other hand, points toward a dextroverse reading, assuming that the side with the letters aligned more neatly (the one with the tips of ) is the upper side. Compare BZ-1 for another inscription of doubtful orientation, which might be read dextroverse with upside-down . Probably an owner's inscription.

Further references: NRIE: 84, Battisti 1936: 495, Kretschmer 1943: 212, Battisti 1944: 223, Tibiletti Bruno 1978: 230.

Bibliography

Battisti 1936	Carlo Battisti, "Rivista Linguistica Etrusca 1932-35 (Prima puntata)", Studi Etruschi 10 (1936), 488–517.
Battisti 1944	Carlo Battisti, "Osservazioni sulla lingua delle iscrizioni nell'alfabeto etrusco settentrionale di Bolzano", Studi Etruschi 18 (1944), 199–236.
Campi 1901	Luigi Campi, "Iscrizione Funeraria Etrusca Rinvenuto in Tavon nella Naunia", Archivio Trentino XVI (1901), 3–12.
Kretschmer 1943	Paul Kretschmer, "Die vorgriechischen Sprach- und Volksschichten (Fortsetzung)", Glotta 30 (1943), 84–218.
LIR	Alberto Mancini, Le Iscrizioni Retiche [= Quaderni del dipartimento di linguistica, Università degli studi di Firenze Studi 8–9], Padova: Unipress 2009–10. (2 volumes)