Transcription + Ἁγία Μαρία
ἡ μήτηρ
Ἰησοῦ
βοήθει |
Translation Holy Maria Mother of Jesus Help (your servant) |
Diplomatic [no diplomatic] |
Greek
H: 1.1 cm; W: 1.4 cm; D: .4 cm
530 CE to 638 CE
No provenance provided.
Cruciform Greek monogram. All the letters, except the one attached to the left arm, are clearly legible: right leg Κ, lower leg Α, upper leg ΟΥ. An attempt to read the left leg as a Β seems futile, since both the upper and lower segments lack closures. More convincing is to read it here as a poorly incised Ρ, in combination with the letter Ϲ. The cross could comprise the letter Ι. Thus, possible readings include: ΑΚΡΙΣΙΟΥ ([of] Akrisios), or ΑΡϹΑΚΟΥ ([of] Arsace incised into the flat surface of the medallion (other side)
Engraved cross with slightly flaring arms set within a dotted border. The cross is devoid of ornamentation and decorated with only simple transecting incisions, dividing its arms into smaller sections on the flat surface of the medallion
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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-ST89This inscription can be cited as:
"Inscriptions of Israel/Palestine," ENYA0001, 12 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89