Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

KEDE0003

Upper Galilee. Cadasa (Tel Qedesh), 214/215 CE. Altar. Dedicatory.
Transcription

Μάρκῳ Αὐρηλιῳ Ἀντωνίνῳ δεκάδαρχος ἀνέθηκεν Τύχης Βωμόν ἔτους μτ

Translation

To [Ma]r(cus) Aureli[us Antoninus] decadarchos (= decurio) [.........] dedicated the [altar] of Ty[che] in the year 340.

Diplomatic

Ρ ΑΥΡΗΛΙ ΔΕΚΑΔΑΡΧΟϹ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕΝ ΤΥ ΕΤΟΥϹ ΜΤ

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The temple at Kedesh appears to be dedicated to the god Baalshamin based on epigraphical evidence and two carved images of eagles found at the site. This altar, however, is dedicated to Tyche (Τύχη), likely at the behest of the δεκάδαρχος; the editor notes that it cannot be taken as evidence of a Τύχη cult at Cadasa. (A reading of Τυρίων instead of Τύχης is rendered unlikely by the altar's modest size.) The title δεκάδαρχος may refer to a civilian municipal position, a position in a collegium as a council member, or the position of a cavalry officer in the military. It is identical with the Roman title "decurio." The date 340 provided in the inscription is according Tyrian era as in the other inscriptions found at this site, and therefore corresponds to 214/215 CE (during the reign of Caracalla).The editor notes that the first line of the inscription is carved on the projection of the cornice, clearly separated from the other lines. He suggests that this indicates the importance of the person whose name it records, and offers the emperor Caracalla; a dedicatory inscription from Bulgaria also refers to him this way, as he traced his descent from the Antonines and used their name. The MT on the final line have an overline to indicate that they represent a date. Script is rounded.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: —; W: —; D: —

Date

214 CE to 215 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • ivy leaf after first ρ in first line of text

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

  • Fischer, Moshe, Asher Ovadiah, and Israel Roll. “The Epigraphic Finds from the Roman Temple at Kedesh in the Upper Galilee.” Tel Aviv 13 (1986): 60–66.
    Zotero
  • Fischer, Moshe, Asher Ovadiah, and Israel Roll. “The Roman Temple at Kedesh, Upper Galilee: A Preliminary Study.” Translated by E Heineman. Tel Aviv 11 (1984): 146–72.
    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," KEDE0003, 9 March 2026. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89