Funerary Stele of Iulia (Stele of Hekate's Problems)- 100's BCE

From the 100's BCE. Found in Aheloy, Burgas Province, Bulgaria in 1928. Photo by Stephen Chappell when exhibited  at the Getty Villa Museum during the "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece" exhibition. Now at the Burgas, Regional Historical Museum (521). Photo by Stephen Chappell. Online at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chappspix/54167647510/

Translation and Image Interpretation

(December 1, 2024) This should be called the "Stele of Hekate's Problems"

Top Image

Top image shows the eagle-vulture on the ends which are mentioned in the text below. In the center is the winged goddess Ayu being intimidated by dogs who likely represent the star Sirius (the dog star) who mediates the night sky motion powers with the life powers. Interestingly. The Thracian Ayu has a bow which represents her visible form as the crescent moon.

Top Text Section

  1. Reassigning life-threads (with eagle-vultures) is instigating nothing. The neglected-ones (eagle-vultures) are purifying nothing. Emotional-triggering is ineffective in starving those wool-stuffing (life-network) powers.
  2. The life-threads activate Yahu (E'). The emanations (light, heat, rain) are activating nothing.  Blockages expel eagle-vultures.  ;  Paralysis can intimidate the pasture (starry night sky).
  3. Kate/Hekate is desiring Ayu's nourishments. The shepherds (magic crafters) are pasturing activity. The Revealer (Kate) is resisting form-manifestations.  Nothing is expecting these death-powers.
  4. [word] is activating involvement with the layout (life network). Anger at Hu's eagle-vultures is activating Su.  ;   Yahu is being cursed. The layout makes ineffective considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic). Starve Yahu's curse.

Top Center Image

Top Center image shows the goddess Kate/Hekate on the left with 2 attendants on the right. Here Hekate is shown lowering her torches indicating she is representing her death power instead of her life power. Torches are Hekete's main symbol.

Middle Text Section

  1. ....   Astrology-magic can paralyze involvement. Openings are the result of attendants (eagle-vultures). Pasture the shepherd's activity. Considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic) can manifest Yahu's (Y') activity.
  2.   ... Emotions can nourish the opening of [word].  Emotions are involved with the openings. That change is scarce. Those network-birds can be energized.
  3. ....   Ayu does not make that visible. Activate the emanations by enabling the expulsion of those boundary-powers from the reed-mat (life network).
  4. ...   Those covered-powers can monitor the confusion. Shout-out the changes in scarcity. Energize the reassignments of the life-threads.
  5. ....  is not shedding. Involve those life-channels. Starvation is filtering reassignments (of the channels). Astrology-magic makes that ineffective.

Lower Center Image

Kate is in her chariot holding her torches high.

Bottom Text Section and Wrap-Up

  1. Emotion-powers (Awen) are causing chaos with [word].  Astrology-magic is making ineffective the veil (dark underworld home of Kate/Hekate). Those are prodding the life-manifestations overshadowing Ayu.

Bottom Image

 Kate/Hekate's entourage is being prodded by barking dogs.

Top Section

(December 1, 2024) Top image shows the eagle-vulture on the ends which are mentioned in the text below. In the center is the winged goddess Ayu being intimidated by dogs who likely represent the star Sirius (the dog star) who mediates the night sky motion powers with the life powers. Interestingly. The Thracian Ayu has a bow which represents her visible form as the crescent moon.

Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 69)

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold, Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration) 
  1. ENu Qu ADu E. EGu ZeKu E. IMu E EKu A TaḪu (Med 69.1)
  2. Qu E'u Ṣu. Zu Ṣu E. Ṣe'u Ru AṢu ; ḪaMu ḪaNu Ta'u (Med 69.2)

In English

  1. Reassigning life-threads (done by eagle-vultures) is instigating nothing. The neglected-ones (eagle-vultures) are purifying nothing. Emotional-triggering is ineffective in starving those wool-stuffing (life-network) powers.
  2. The life-threads activate Yahu (E'). The emanations (light, heat, rain) are activating nothing.  Blockages expel eagle-vultures.  ;  Paralysis can intimidate the pasture (starry night sky).

Previously Attempted Translation in Greek (red letters are differences in letter assignments) - Google Greek Translation


  1. Ενθάδε ἐγὼ κεῖμε Έκάτη  (ENADE EGU KEYME EKATN) - We will be buried in Ekati
  2. θεὸς ὡς ἐσορᾷς. ἤμην τὸ  (EOṢ UṢ EṢORAṢ ; NMNU TO) - God is the Body. Don't do it

Academic Greek Translation To English

  1. Here I lie, deified as Hekate, 
  2. as you can see. Once I was mortal 

Reference


Translation reported by Mario Ivanov, from the exhibition catalogue for 'Ancient Thrace and the Classical World' at the Getty Villa

Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 69)

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold, Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration) 
  1. KaTe LaLu AYu Bu. Re'u Ta'u Ṣu. Nu UNu Du. E AQu A NeḪu (Med 69.3)
  2. Ne'u Ṣu Ku LeYu. AGu Ḫu Ru Ṣu Su  ;  Ya'u Wa. LeYu ANu E. IKu Ya'u Wa (Med 69.4)

In English


  1. Kate/Hekate is desiring Ayu's nourishments. The shepherds (astrology magic crafters) are pasturing activity. The Revealer (Kate) is resisting form-manifestations.  Nothing is expecting these death-powers.
  2. The near-realm is activating involvement with the layout (life network). Anger at Hu's eagle-vultures is activating Su.  ;   Yahu is being cursed. The layout makes ineffective any considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic). Starve Yahu's curser (Kate/Hekate).

Previously Attempted Translation in Greek (red letters are differences in letter assignments) - Google Greek Translation


  1. πάλαι βροτὸς νῦν δὲ ἀθάνα-  (PALAY BROTOṢ NUN DE AANA) - Old Thunder to Die
  2. τος καὶ άγήρως· Ίουλία Νεικίου (TOṢ KAY AGERUṢ YOMLYA NEYKYOU) - In this way and in old age ; Ioulia Neikiou

Academic Greek Translation To English

  1. but now I am 
  2. immortal and ageless. Iulia Neikiou

Top Center image shows the goddess Kate/Hekate on the left with 2 attendants on the right. Here Hekate is shown lowering her torches indicating she is representing her death power instead of her life power. Torches are Hekete's main symbol.

Middle Section

Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 69)

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold, Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration) 
  1. ..... Tu ḪaMu Ku. Pu A AḪu. Ta'u Re'u Ṣu. ANu Du Ya'u Ṣu (Med 69.5)
  2. ...  EMu Bu Pu A[1]. EMu Ku Pu. A TaRu IṢu. A Pa'u Gu (Med 69.6)

In English


  1. ....   Astrology-magic can paralyze involvement. Openings are the result of attendants (eagle-vultures). Pasture the shepherd's activity. Considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic) can manifest Yahu's (Y') activity.
  2.   ... Emotions can nourish the opening of [word].  Emotions are involved with the openings. That change is scarce. Those network-birds can be energized.

Previously Attempted Translation in Greek (red letters are differences in letter assignments) - Google Greek Translation


  1. θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος ἀωδρός. (.......TER MEGALETOROṢ  AUOROṢ) Daughter of Megaletor Odros
  2. Μεσεμβρία δέ μυ πατρὶς, ἀπὸ (.... EM  BRYA DE MU PATRYṢ APO_) In the midst of the father's muscle, from

Academic Greek Translation To English

  1. the daughter of the great-hearted man Nikias. 
  2. And my native city is Mesembria-from 

Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 69)

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold, Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration) 
  1. ..... AYu BaRu Ya A. Šu Zu MaṢu AṢu A ETu ḪiṢu (Med 69.7)
  2. ...   A ḪeŠu ATu EŠu. EḪu TaRu IṢu. Gu ENu Qu (Med 69.8)

In English


  1. ....   Ayu does not make that visible. Activate the emanations by enabling the expulsion of those boundary-powers from the reed-mat (life network).
  2. ...   Those covered-powers can monitor the confusion. Shout-out the changes in scarcity. Energize the reassigning of the life-threads.

Previously Attempted Translation in Greek (red letters are differences in letter assignments) - Google Greek Translation


  1. [Μέ]λσα καὶ βρία· ζήσασα ἕτη ὅσα (.... AY BRYA ; _ ZEṢAṢA ETE OA) Melsa and Vria; I lived in this place
  2. μοι στηλη κατέχει· τρὶς πέντε, (... ATEŠEI. TRYṢ PEUTE) My column holds; three five

Academic Greek Translation To English

  1. Melsa and bria. I lived as many years 
  2. as my stele tells you, three times five, 

Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 69)

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold, Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration) 
  1. P [2or 3]Š EṢu Ya. Ku A IDu. EKu NaPu ENu. Tu E (Med 69.9)

In English

  1. ....  is not shedding. Involve those life-channels. Starvation is filtering reassignments (of the channels). Astrology-magic is being ineffective.

Previously Attempted Translation in Greek (red letters are differences in letter assignments) - Google Greek Translation

  1. δις [ε]ἵκοσι καὶ δέν ---- τε. (...  ṢY  KAY  DEU ---- TE) Twice twenty and ten  (the missing letters are probably just copy errors)

Academic Greek Translation To English

  1. two times twenty, and fifteen. 

Bottom Section

Translation in Akkadian (Med Text 69)

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold, Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration) 
  1. AWu TaŠu Šu ṢeYu. Tu E APu. A Ka'u Du ITu AYu (Med 69.10)

In English

  1. Emotion-powers (Awen) are causing chaos with similar blockages.  Astrology-magic is making ineffective the veil (dark underworld, home of Kate). Those are prodding the life-manifestations overshadowing Ayu.

Previously Attempted Translation in Greek (red letters are differences in letter assignments) - Google Greek Translation

  1. εὐτυχεῖτε παροδῖται.  (EUTUŠEYTE TTARODITAY) By chance, it is passing.

Academic Greek Translation To English

  1. Be happy, passersby.