Author: Roberto D. Melfi

Download article as .pdf: Prime riflessioni sul commercio del vino cretese nel Golfo di Napoli attraverso la “rilettura” di tre tituli picti dalla Taberna vasaria di Ercolano

In early 1932, a group of thirty-three Cretan amphorae of the AC4 type was discovered in Herculaneum, characterized by inscriptions referring to the same abbreviated name. Among these inscriptions, initially published as bearing identical texts, one in particular (CIL IV 10893) has led to differing subsequent readings and interpretations. Through a new direct examination of the still-visible inscribed traces, it has been possible to achieve a more accurate rereading of at least three inscriptions, essentially confirming M. Della Corte’s editio princeps and securely restoring the formula K. K. ΖΩ, along with identifying previously unrecognized letters. Although minimal, this new reading opens fresh avenues for identifying the individual involved, understanding the production context of these amphorae, and exploring the trade of Cretan wine in Herculaneum. Therefore, this paper aims to update the epigraphic evidence and present a preliminary reflection on its historical and economic implications.