Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

ELJI0001

Judaea. El-Jib(?). 20 BCE - 135 CE. Ossuary. Funerary.
Transcription

Σαλώνα κατανα Μαραιάμη

Translation

Little Salona Maraiame

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
Roughly dressed ossuary has red wash, low feet, and and one incised line running along all sides of rim. Height describes that of chest plus that of gabled lid with fingergrips, broken and reconstructed. Ornamentation on the chest's front side consists of three metopes in zigzag frames, with a frieze of interlaced semi-circles at top, and triglyphs transformed into palm trees with ascending branches of zigzag semi-circles, mirrored by roots. Each metope contains a six-petalled rosette within a zigzag circle, with zigzags overlaying petals. Ornamentation on the chest's right side is similar, with an encircled rosette similarly linked to a frame. Σαλώνα, like שלון, is an alternate form or contraction of the name שלומציון; it is also found on Jewish tombstones in Italy. Κατανα is a Greek transliteration of קטנה, "little (one)." The ossuary contains the remains of an adult, so Κατανα is presumably a term of endearment or nickname, perhaps alluding to her physique. It is unlikely that the term is in place of νεωτέρα, "the younger." Greek transliterations of Hebrew words are found on other ossuaries in the area. Μαραιάμη, apparently a second name for Salona, is a variant of a common Greek form of מרים.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 33.5+10 cm; W: 58.5 cm; D: 28.5 cm

Date

20 BCE to 135 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • zigzag frames around metopes

  • frieze of semi-circles top of chest's front side

  • palm trees triglyphs

  • encircled rosettes within metopes and on chest's right side

  • metopes front of chest

  • zigzag circles around rosettes

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

  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    Zotero
  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    Zotero
  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    Zotero
  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    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," ELJI0001, 7 June 2026. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89