Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Images

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Location

JERU0024

Judaea. Jerusalem. 20 BCE to 70 CE. Soft limestone ossuary with chip-carved ornamentation. Funerary.
Transcription

שמעון בוטון בוטון

Translation

Shim'on of (the family of) Boethos. Of (the family of) Boethos.

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The ossuary has inner ledge on three sides and low feet. Lid is missing. Ornamentation on the chest's front side consists of a columned porch of vertical grooves capped by a plain frieze. The incised representation of an altar sits in the intercolumnar space second from left. The word בוטון is inscribed above the altar; the full name שמעון בוטון is inscribed near the top left corner of the chest. A mark like the altar here is interpreted as a sign or emblem of the profession of the deceased, in this case, priesthood. Sukenik links the ossuary to the particular priestly family of Simon b. Boethos of Alexandria, who lived in Jerusalem at the time of King Herod's rule; he reads בוטון as Βοηθῶν, genitive plural of Βοηθός.

Languages

Hebrew, Aramaic

Dimensions

H: 36.5 cm; W: 60 cm; D: 30 cm

Date

20 BCE to 70 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • altar in one intercolumnar space

  • porch, columned front of chest

  • plain frieze above porch

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
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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," JERU0024, 18 November 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89