Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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AKAS0002

Golan. Tel 'Akasha, Late Roman or early Byzantine period. Tombstone. Epitaph.
Transcription

+ μνησθῇ ὁ πρεσβύτερος Ἀλαφ οαχ ε απλετβ ΩΑ

Translation

Remember the presbyter Alaph...

Diplomatic

+ ΜΝΣΣΟΠΡΕS ΑΛΑΦ ΟΑΧΕ ΑΠΛΕΤΒ Ω Α

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
This tombstone was originally discovered by Urman's survey team during a brief visit to the site in 1968. The inscription is complete, but is badly worn in the lower half. Only the first three lines can be read with confidence. ΜΝΣΣ is a variation on a familiar abbreviation. The abbreviation symbol S at the end of line 2 strongly suggests the common designation for presbyter, despite the indefiniteness of the letter Gregg reads as rho. The last letter of line 3 is illegible, making it difficult to interpret the end of the name. The inscription is identified as Christian by the presence of an incised cross at the top center and a chi-rho at the beginning of the inscription. Additional Christian symbols were detected at the bottom of the inscription. There is a faintly etched omega and alpha above a carved disk, within which there is an upright chi-rho similar to that in line 1.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 90 cm; W: 32 cm; D: 12 cm

Date

200 CE to 500 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • Chi-rho beginning of line 1

  • Cross top center of stone

  • Omega and alpha bottom of inscription

  • Chi-rho bottom of inscription, within a carved disk

Bibliography

Source of diplomatic

No bibliography available for diplomatic transcription.

Source of transcription

No bibliography available for transcription.

Source of translation

No bibliography available for translation.

Other sources

  • Gregg, Robert C., and Dan Urman. Jews, Pagans, and Christians in the Golan Heights: Greek and Other Inscriptions of the Roman and Byzantine Eras. South Florida Studies in the History of Judaism 140. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996.
    Zotero
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The project can be cited as:

Satlow, Michael L., ed. 2002 - . “Inscriptions of Israel/Palestine.” Brown University. https://doi.org/10.26300/PZ1D-ST89

This inscription can be cited as:

"Inscriptions of Israel/Palestine," AKAS0002, 23 January 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89