Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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JERU0125

Judaea. Jerusalem. 20 BCE to 70 CE. Soft limestone ossuary with finely incised ornamentation. Funerary.
Transcription

Σίμον

Translation

Simon

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
Ossuary has inner ledge on four sides, low feet, and a gabled lid with fingergrips. Height describes that of chest plus that of lid. Ornamentation on the chest's front side consists of two metopes in a zigzag frame, with triglyph transformed into palm-tree motif. Concentric, zigzag semi-circles indicate ascending branches, mirrored by roots, and the trunk is formed of one zigzag line and two zigzag semi-circles. Each metope contains a six-petalled rosette within a zigzag circle, with zigzags overlaying petals and zigzag quarter-circles in the outer corners. The chest's right side has a lattice pattern in red wash, and the back side has the pattern repeated twice. The name, inscribed on the chest's right side, is more frequently spelled Σίμων. A similar sigma, executed in three strokes, occurs on a contemporaneous stone weight from Jerusalem. A second ossuary from the tomb seems to have been inscribed by the same hand and has similar ornamentation (see inscription "jeru0126").

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 31+4 cm; W: 62 cm; D: 26 cm

Date

20 BCE to 70 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • metopes within frame

  • zigzag frame front of chest

  • palm-tree motif triglyph

  • zigzag circles encircling rosettes

  • zigzag semi-circles forming trunk tree

  • zigzag quarter-circles outer corners of metopes

  • zigzags overlaying petals

  • zigzag semi-circles indicating branches and roots tree

  • encircled six-petalled rosettes in metopes

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. page 153.
    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. page plate 47, fig. 332:F.
    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. page plate 47, fig. 332:R.
    Zotero
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Cite This Inscription

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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," JERU0125, 7 August 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89