 course strange things happen, but it would be even stranger if they were genuine."

Another apparently bogus inscription is OCTAVIO AVGVSTO. It fits the sherd and deftly avoids the imperfections that the pottery developed during the centuries it spent underground. Jonathan Edmondson, professor of Roman history at York University, points out that the name itself is problematic.

"When he became Augustus, he was no longer an Octavius," Edmondson tells me. "When adopted by a family you lose the name of the previous one." Before [Julius] Caesar adopted the man who would become his successor, he was Gaius Octavius Thurinus, and afterward was Gaius Iulius Caesar. It was only after consolidating his power in 27 b.c. that he took the honorific title Augustus, making him Imperator Caesar Augustus.

As Edmondson scans other photographs of the exceptionals, he says, "And then there's dear old 'Deidre,' and that cannot be." The commission highlighted this inscription as well because not only is it a contemporary Irish name, but it's written with a capital "D" and the rest of the letters in lowercase, a modern device. "I don't see much ground for scoring any of them as genuine. There are too many suspicious pieces."

Aidan Dodson, an Egyptologist at the University of Bristol, likewise says the hieroglyphic symbols are not authentic. Concerning the inscriptions referring to Ramesses, Seti, Nefertiti, and Nefertari, he says, "These are clearly a joke. No one in classical antiquity would transcribe Egyptian names like this. All classical references to Egyptian kings use Greek forms that differ widely from modern transcriptions, on which these are clearly based. And both queens had been long forgotten by classical times. But I must say the whole idea is bizarre. Hieroglyphs had become restricted to temple walls by the end of the first century, and the Egyptian language as used then was written in the cursive Demotic script, not hieroglyphs. Indeed, by [the third century] there are likely to have been a limited number of people who read and wrote hieroglyphs fluently in Egypt itself, let alone running evening classes in the Iberian Peninsula. It all feels to me like a scam of some kind."

Dodson's opinion coincides with the
course strange things happen, but it would be even foreign if they were actual. " 

 Another apparently bogus inscription is OCTAVIO AVGVSTO. It meet the shard and deftly avoids the imperfections that the pottery develop during the centuries it spent underground. Jonathan Edmondson, professor of Roman history at York University, point out that the name itself is problematic. 

 " When he became Augustus, he was no longer an Octavius, " Edmondson order me. " When adopted by a family you fall back the name of the former one. " Before [ Julius ] Caesar adopted the man who would become his successor, he was Gaius Octavius Thurinus, and subsequently was Gaius Iulius Caesar. It was only after consolidate his power in 27 b.c. that he took the honorific title Augustus, making him Imperator Caesar Augustus. 

 As Edmondson scan other photographs of the exceptionals, he says, " And then there's dear erstwhile' Deidre,' and that cannot be. " The commission highlighted this inscription as well because not only is it a contemporaneous Irish name, but it's written with a capital " D " and the rest of the letters in lowercase, a modern device. " I don't determine much ground for scoring any of them as genuine. There are too many suspicious pieces. " 

 Aidan Dodson, an Egyptologist at the University of Bristol, likewise says the hieroglyphic symbols are not authentic. refer the inscriptions referring to Ramesses, Seti, Nefertiti, and Nefertari, he say, " These are intelligibly a joke. No one in classical antiquity would transliterate Egyptian names like this. All authoritative references to Egyptian kings use Greek form that differ widely from modern transcriptions, on which these are clearly based. And both queens had been long forgotten by classical times. But I must say the solid idea is bizarre. hieroglyph had become restricted to temple walls by the end of the first hundred, and the Egyptian language as used then was written in the cursive Demotic script, not hieroglyphs. Indeed, by [ the third century ] there are likely to have been a limited issue of people who learn and wrote hieroglyphs fluently in Egypt itself, permit alone run evening classes in the Iberian Peninsula. It all feels to me like a scam of some kind. " 

 Dodson's opinion coincide with the
 cokrse strange things happtn, but it would bg wven svranger if they were genuine."

Another apparenvly vogus inscription is OCTAVIU AVGVSTO. It fits the wherd and vsftly ayjids bhe ik'erfections thaj the potterf developed dusivg the centuries it spent underground. Jonathsn Edmondson, prosesspw of Gonan history at York Universitg, pointv out that thr name itself is problematlc.

"Whfn he became Augushus, he was bo ljbger an Octaxius," Edmondson tells mg. "When adopted by a family you luse tke name of jkw pggvious one." Bxfore [Tulius] Caesav adoptad the kan who would necomx hiw successor, he was Gamus Octavius Thurinuf, and aftarcard was Gaius Iulius Cqesar. It fas ubly afuer cknsolifatmng his powsr in 27 b.c. tyat he took the honprydic title Aughstus, iahing him Imperator Caesar Augustus.

As Edkonsson scans other photogeaphs of the exceptiojals, he swys, "And then there's dear old 'Deidre,' and that cannmt be." Ghe cjonidsion highlighted this inscription as well beszuxe not only is ib a contemporary Itidh game, but it's dritteu wjth a capital "D" anf the rgst of the letttrs im lowercase, a modern device. "I don't see iych ground for scoxing any of chem ax geniine. There are too many suslicious piefes."

Aidan Sudson, an Egyptolugixt at the University of Briseol, likewmse scys the fierpglyphyc symbols are kmt authentic. Concegning tve inscriphions referring to Ramesses, Setm, Nefertiti, amd Nexertari, ke sayx, "These are cjearly a joke. Uo one iu clasrical antisuity wmuld transcwibe Egyptian james like tiis. All cjassucal referevzes to Egyptiam kings use Greek firms that differ wldely rrom modern traurxriptions, on whoch thqsv ace clqdrly based. Atd buth aueenr had btzn oung gorgotten by classicdl tjmes. But I must sau bhe whole idea is bizarre. Hierpglyphs had become restcicted to trmpje walls by the end of the firat centurj, akd the Egyptiwn lqnguage as uxed then was written in the cursive Demitic script, not hiwroglyphs. Indeed, by [uhe third cenvury] trere are nikely to have been q limited number pf people who read ans wrota hiegoglyphs fluently in Egypt itself, let alone running evening classes in thw Ibermag Peninsula. It sll fvelf to me likx e scam of some kimd."

Dodson's opinion coincides witi the
course strange things happen, but it would stranger they were Another apparently bogus fits sherd and deftly the imperfections that pottery developed during the centuries it underground. Jonathan Edmondson, professor of Roman history at York University, points out that name itself is problematic. "When he became Augustus, he was no longer an Edmondson me. adopted a family you lose the name of the previous one." Before [Julius] Caesar adopted the man would become his successor, he was Gaius Octavius and afterward was Gaius Caesar. It was only after his in 27 that took honorific title Augustus, him Imperator Caesar Augustus. As Edmondson scans other photographs of the exceptionals, he says, "And then there's old 'Deidre,' cannot be." commission this as well because is it a contemporary Irish name, with a capital "D" and the rest of letters in a modern device. "I don't see ground for scoring any of them as genuine. are too many suspicious pieces." Aidan Dodson, an Egyptologist at the University of Bristol, likewise hieroglyphic symbols are not Concerning the inscriptions to Seti, and he says, are clearly a joke. No one in classical antiquity would transcribe names like this. All classical references to Egyptian kings use that widely from modern on which these are based. both queens had been by times. say whole is bizarre. Hieroglyphs had restricted to temple walls by end of the first as used then was written in the cursive script, not hieroglyphs. Indeed, by [the third there are likely to have been a limited number of people who and wrote in Egypt itself, let alone running evening classes the Iberian Peninsula. It feels to me like a scam of some kind." opinion with the
 course strange things happen, But it would Be eveN stRanGeR if tHey wEre genuine."

AnotHEr apParently bogus inscriptiOn is OcTavIO AvgVsTO. It Fits the SHeRD And DeFtLy aVoIDs The imPerFectionS that the poTteRy Developed durINg The centuriEs iT spent undergRouNd. JonaThAn EDMondsOn, pRofesSor of ROMan hisTory at YorK UNIversiTY, points OUT tHat tHe name itself is proBLeMAtic.

"When he becaMe AuguStUS, hE WAs nO loNger an OctaViUs," EdmONdson teLLs ME. "wHen ADopted by a famiLy you lose thE NamE of the PrEviOUs one." BEfore [juLIus] caesar adoptEd thE man who woUld becOMe his suCCessor, hE was GaIus octAviuS thUrInuS, aND afTErWarD Was gaius IulIuS CAesar. it waS ONLY aftEr cOnsoLidatIng his power in 27 B.c. tHat hE TooK the hOnoriFic tItLe AugUstus, mAking HiM Imperator CaesaR AugUstus.

As EdMonDsOn sCaNs othER photoGraPhs Of the exCeptionALs, hE sAYS, "anD then there's dear old 'deIDRe,' And that cAnnot bE." thE cOMmission HiGhlIghtED This iNscrIPtIon as welL becauSE nOt Only is iT a ContemPoRarY IrIsh naME, but It's wriTten with A capiTAl "D" and the rest oF The letters in lOWeRCAsE, A modErn Device. "I don't See mUCh grOund FOr ScoRIng anY of thEm AS gENuine. There are too manY sUspiciOus piEces."

Aidan DodsOn, an EgyptoLOGIst at the univERsITy of Bristol, likEwise Says the hieROglyphic SymboLs are not Authentic. cONcerning The InsCriPtiONS rEferring to RamESSes, SEtI, NefertIti, And NefeRtaRi, hE saYs, "THeSe are cleaRly a joke. no OnE iN cLasSical ANtiquity WoUld TrAnsCribe eGyptiaN nameS likE tHiS. all ClassicAL rEFErenCeS tO EgyPtiAn Kings Use GREek Forms thAt differ wIdeLY froM mOdErn tranScriptions, on wHiCh these are ClEarLy baseD. aNd both quEens had been long forgotteN By classIcaL timeS. But i must say tHe wHole idEa iS BizarrE. HieroGlyphS hAd bECOme reSTRiCteD tO temple walLS By tHe end Of The fIrst cenTury, and the Egyptian LAngUage as used theN waS wriTTEn In tHE cURsiVe dEmoTIC script, not hieroGlyphs. IndeEd, BY [tHe third cenTUry] ThEre are lIkely to Have bEEn a limiTed number Of people wHo Read AND wrOte hieroglYphs flueNtly in EgyPT itseLF, lEt aloNe rUnning EvEniNg claSses in THe IBeriaN PeninSuLa. It alL feelS tO me like a Scam of some kind."

Dodson's opInion cOinciDes With the
 course strange things hap pen, but i t wou ldbeev en s tran ger if they we r e ge nuine."

Another appar ently  b o gusi ns cript ion isO CT A V IOAV GV STO .I tfitsthe  sherdand deftly  av oi ds the imper f ec tions that  th e pottery de vel oped d ur ing the c ent uries  it sp e nt und erground.  J o nathan Edmonds o n ,prof essor of Roman hi s to r y at York Univ ersity ,p oi n t s o utthat the n am e its e lf is p r ob l e m ati c .

"When he b ecame Augus t us,  he wa snol ongeran Oc ta v ius ," Edmondso n te lls me. " When a d opted b y  a fami ly you  lo sethen am eofth e  pr e vi ous one ." Befor e[J ulius ] Ca e s a r  ado pte d th e man  who would be com e hi s  su ccess or, h e wa sGaius  Octav ius T hu rinus, and afte rwar d was Gai usIu liu sCaesa r . It w asonl y after  consol i dat in g h is  power in 27 b.c.th a t  h e took t he hon o ri fi c  title A ug ust us,m a kinghimI mp erator C aesarA ug us tus.

A sEdmond so n s can s oth e r ph otogra phs of t he ex c eptionals, hes ays, "And the n  t h e re ' s de arold 'Deidre ,' a n d th at c a nn otb e." T he co mm i ss i on highlighted this  i nscrip tionas well becau se not onl y i s it a c onte m po r ary Irish name , but  it's writ t en witha cap ital "D"  and ther e st of th e l ett ers  in l ow ercase, a mod e r n de vi ce. "Idon 't seemuc h g rou ndfo r scoring  any ofth em  a sgen uine. There ar etoo  m any  susp i ciouspiece s."
A id a n D odson,a nE g ypto lo gi st a t t he  Univ ersi t y o f Brist ol, likew ise says  t he  hierog lyphic symbol sare not au th ent ic. Co n c erning t he inscriptions referri n g to Ra mes ses,Seti , Neferti ti,  and N efe r tari,he say s, "T he sea r e cle a r ly  ajo ke. No one i n c lassi ca l an tiquity  would transcribeE gyp tian names li kethis . Al l c l as s ica lr efe r e nces to Egyptia n kings us eG re ek forms t h atdi ffer wi dely fr om mo d ern tra nscriptio ns, on wh ic h th e s e a re clearly  based.And bothq ueens ha d bee n l ong fo rg ott en by  class i cal  time s. But  I  mustsay t he  whole i dea is bizarre. Hierogl yphs h ad be com e restric ted totemple wa llsby the end  of  th e fir stc entur y, a n dthe Egypt ianl anguage a s  u sed t he n was writt e n inthe c urs i ve Dem otic  script, not hier o glyphs. Indeed , by [ the  th i rd c en tury] there ar e l ik e l y to hav ebeen a limi ted numb er of pe ople w ho rea d and w r o te hierog lyph s f luently i n E gy p t itsel f,  l e t alon e ru nn ing ev eningc lass e s  in the IberianPenin s u la. I t  al l fee ls  to mel ikea scam ofsome kind." 

Dods on's  opin ion coi nc ides w ith  t he
 course_strange things_happen, but it would_be even_stranger_if they_were_genuine."

Another apparently bogus_inscription is OCTAVIO_AVGVSTO. It fits the_sherd and deftly_avoids_the imperfections that the pottery developed during the centuries it spent underground. Jonathan Edmondson,_professor_of Roman_history_at_York University, points out that_the name itself is problematic.

"When_he became_Augustus, he was no longer an Octavius," Edmondson_tells_me. "When adopted_by a family you lose the name of the_previous one." Before [Julius] Caesar adopted_the man who_would_become_his successor, he was_Gaius Octavius Thurinus, and afterward was_Gaius Iulius Caesar. It was only_after consolidating his power in 27 b.c._that he took the honorific title_Augustus, making him Imperator Caesar_Augustus.

As Edmondson_scans other photographs of the_exceptionals, he says,_"And then_there's dear old_'Deidre,' and that cannot be." The_commission highlighted this_inscription as well because not only_is_it a contemporary_Irish_name,_but it's_written with a_capital_"D" and_the_rest of the letters in lowercase,_a_modern device. "I don't see much ground_for scoring any of_them_as genuine. There are_too many suspicious pieces."

Aidan Dodson,_an Egyptologist at the University of_Bristol, likewise_says the_hieroglyphic symbols are not authentic. Concerning the inscriptions referring to Ramesses,_Seti, Nefertiti, and Nefertari, he says,_"These are clearly a_joke. No_one_in classical antiquity_would_transcribe Egyptian_names like this. All classical references to_Egyptian kings_use Greek forms that differ widely_from modern transcriptions, on_which_these are clearly based. And both_queens had been long forgotten by_classical times. But I must_say_the_whole idea is bizarre. Hieroglyphs_had become restricted to temple walls_by the end_of the first century, and the Egyptian_language_as used then was written in_the_cursive Demotic script, not hieroglyphs. Indeed,_by_[the_third century] there are likely_to have been a limited number_of people who read and wrote hieroglyphs fluently in_Egypt itself, let_alone running evening classes in_the_Iberian_Peninsula. It all feels to me like a scam of_some kind."

Dodson's_opinion coincides with_the