Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

BIRS0007

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

Ἐπὶ Στεφάνου παραμοναρίου καὶ, πρεσβυτέρου ἐτελιώθη τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο.

Translation

In the time of Stephanos the paramonarios the priest this work was completed.

Diplomatic

ΕΠΙϹΤΕΦΑΝΟΥΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΑΡSΠΡΕϹΒSΕΤΕΛΙΩΘΗΤΟΕΡΓΟΝΤΟΥΤΟ

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
Dedicatory inscription on the floor in front of the chancel of the church. It is located above Birs0006, and the editor suggests that all they should therefore be read together as a continuous text. He also points out that the large letters and prominent location indicate the importance of Stephanos and the construction of the church to the community. The mosaic has black letters set into a white background. The Stephanos mentioned in this inscription is also mentioned in Birs0002, Birs0004, and Birs0008. He is referred to as a πρεσβύτερος in this inscription and in Birs0008 and as a ἰερεύς in Birs0002 and (possibly) Birs0004. The editor indicates that these two titles can both be equally used to indicate the same clerical rank of priest. He is also identified in this inscription as the paramonarios, a position which was part of the religious administrative hierarchy and which indicates that he was the bailiff or guardian of the church. Stephanos was therefore the highest ranked ecclesiastical figure at Birsama. The name Stephanos is of Greek origin. The inscription makes use of lunate sigmas as well as large miniscule omegas (in the place of majuscule omegas). The editor records two "S" characters in his diplomatic and seems to understand these as abbreviation marks.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: —; W: —; D: —

Date

450 CE to 550 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

No figures described.

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," BIRS0007, 7 June 2026. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89