BONE TABLET FROM OLBIA (SEG XXXVI: 694): HISTORY OF THE STUDY OF RELIGIOUS TEXT AND ATTEMPT OF INTERPRETATION
This article is devoted to the study of a bone tablet with graffito published byA.S. Rusyaeva in 1986 which provoked a great scientific discussion. The tablet is covered on both sides with letters and is covered with chaotic lines on recto side. The main part of the text consists of an ascending numerical series from 7 to 7000 with epithets and animals identified with Apollo. Also, in the text there is a dedication to Apollo Didymeus. In this article it is analyzed different readings and conjenctures to this text, first of all, corrections by B. Bravo. In the end the reading of the first publisher with additions is accepted as the most relevant. In the article is paid particular attention to the analysis of interpretations of the text. It is examined oracular, orphic and some other versions but as the most likely accepted interpretation as a prayer or a hymn suggested by L. Onyushkevich. The tablet was dedicated to the sanctuary of Apollo subsequently.