Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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MAON0001

Horvat Ma'on, Fifth - Seventh centuries CE. Ceramic vessel. Votive.
Transcription

Εὐλογία Στεφάνου

Translation

[no translation]

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The shape of the object indicates that it was a stamp specifically manufactured for marking bread buns. By pressing the stamp on an unbaked loaf, the pattern was impressed in relief on the soft dough and remained visible on the baked crust. The inscription indicates that the stamp was used for preparing buns that were handed out at a church as a memento of a visit to that church rather than used in the Eucharist rite.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: —; W: 8.5 cm; D: —

Date

400 CE to 638 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • Incised decoration of letters and symbols. At its center is a large dot surrounded by six smaller dots. A narrow band skirting the edge of the disk encloses an inscription, which in turn runs around the central pattern base of the stamp. the pattern of dots at the center of the base may reflect the early jewish-christian theology, which viewed christ as the greatest of the seven archangels. the dots may represent christ surrounded by the six companion-archangels believed to be prefigured in isaiah's (11:1-2) prophecy about the son of david

  • A cross with two rows of dots set between its arms on the handle top. the cross-and-dots design is a common device, possibly representing the sparkles of supernatural light surrounding the cross

Bibliography

Source of diplomatic

  • Di Segni, Leah. “A Bread Stamp from Horbat Ma’on.” Atiqot 78 (2014): 31–36.
    Zotero

Source of transcription

  • Di Segni, Leah. “A Bread Stamp from Horbat Ma’on.” Atiqot 78 (2014): 31–36.
    Zotero

Source of translation

  • Di Segni, Leah. “A Bread Stamp from Horbat Ma’on.” Atiqot 78 (2014): 31–36.
    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," MAON0001, 19 November 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89