Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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BIRS0002

Negev. Birsama (Be'er-Shema), 450 CE - 500 CE. Mosaic Pavement. Dedication.
Transcription

Τριάδος δόμος οὖτος ὃν ἠστήσαντο Κομῆται Ἑλλαδίου Γερράρων, ἐπί χρόνοισι Θωώκων καί Στεφάνου ἱερῆος ἅπας τετέλησται πόνοισι.

Translation

This is the temple of Trinity, which was built by the Comites of Helladios of Gerar. In the years of Thookon and the priest Stephanos it was entirely completed with labor.

Diplomatic

ΤΡΙΑΔΟϹΔΟΜΟϹΟΥΤΟϹΟΝΗϹΤΗϹΑΝΤΟΚΟΜΗΤΑΙΕΛΛΑΔΙΟΥΓΕΡΡΑΡΩΝΕΠΙΧΡΟΝΟΙϹΙΘΩΩΚΩΝΚΑΙϹΤΕΦΑΝΟΥΙΕΡΗΟϹΑΠΑϹΤΕΤΕΛΗϹΤΑΙΠΟΝΟΙϹΙ

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
Dedicatory inscription made of black letters set into a white rectangular background and framed in tabula ansata. There is a geometric border of black and white tiles below the text. It is located on the floor of the baptistery chapel in front of the baptismal front. This inscription stands out from Birs0001 and Birs0003-0009 because of the language. Whereas the other inscriptions from this church are recorded in Byzantine Greek, this one is recorded in an epic idiom very similar to the Homeric. It is not clear from the text whether the chapel alone or the entire church is named for the Trinity. The "comites" to which this inscription refers were a select group of cavalry units ranking higher than the legions and who after the time of Diocletian served as bodyguards to high ranking officials. The editor notes that Halladios of Gerar was likely the governor of the imperial estate (saltus) of Gerar by the time this inscription was recorded. Birsame seems to have been the location of the military headquarters of the imperial estate of Gerar in the 5th and 6th Centuries CE. There is a damaged area in the artistic mosaic below the inscription. The editor suggests that it can be taken as either a nominative singular or a genitive plural, and seems to be either a personal name or that of a unit or group. The Stephanos mentioned in this inscription seems to have been the religious authority (and probably bishop) of the estate, and is also mentioned in Birs0004, Birs0007, and Birs0008. He is referred to as a ἰερεύς in this inscription and (possibly) Birs0004 and as a πρεσβύτερος in Birs0007 and Birs0008. The editor indicates that these two titles can both be equally used to indicate the same clerical rank of priest.The inscription makes use of lunate sigmas as well as large miniscule omegas (in the place of majuscule omegas).The names Stephanos is of Greek origin, while the name Thookon (which is unattested in other literary or epigraphic sources) may be a Hellanized form of a Semitic or Egyptian name. The editor indicates that Thookon may be either a personal name or that that of a military unit stationed in the area.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: —; W: —; D: —

Date

450 CE to 550 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • Geometric border below the text

  • tabula ansata frame

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

  • Tzaferis, Vassilios. “The Greek Inscriptions from the Early Christian Church at ’Evron.” Eretz-Israel 25 (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," BIRS0002, 7 June 2026. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89