Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

SENA0005

Hermon Mons (Har Senaim). Late first century CE to mid second century CE. Statue. Dedicatory.
Transcription

ΛΑΙ ΑΝ εὐχῆς ἕνεχεν

Translation

...due to a vow

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
These two fragments of one inscription on the soft limestone base of an eagle make up one of a number of Greek inscriptions from Senaim on Mount Hermon. Senaim seems to have functioned as the main cult place for local settlements in the region, an area which was from the Hellenistic period on inhabited by Ituraeans. The inscription was found on the steps to a small temple at the site. The temple itself contained three other altars, one of which bore the figure of Helios. The left fragment is 10 cm wide while the right is 46 cm. The pieces were discovered in 1988 and 1986 respectively. The author suggests that the Latin "L" indicates an etos, as it cannot stand for a praenomen in Greek text, and that the etos in may in fact refer to the reign of Agrippa II. Based off of this interpretation, he presents a number of dates which the "A" and "I" could represent. He indicates that the date may have been read either right to left or left to right, and that the I is not clear enough to rule out the possiblity that it is instead the left portion of a K, M or N. The years which he offers based on these possibilities are 1, 11, 21, 41 and 51. Based on paleography, a late first century CE date (such as during the reign of Agrippa II) or a mid-second century CE date is expected. The letters "A" and "N" are presumed to belong to the dedicator. Though not visible in the photograph the author worked with, he notes that in Applebaum's 1988 publication of the inscription the letters ΙϹ are noted at the end of the first line. If the last word is restored as ἕνεχεν, the first can be restored as εὐχῆς based on frequent attestation of this formula.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 12 cm; W: 10 and 46 cm; D: —

Date

70 CE to 150 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • sculpted eagle feet belonging to statue on top of the inscribed base

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

  • Dar, Shimon, and Nikkos Kokkinos. “The Greek Inscriptions From Senaim on Mount Hermon.” Palestine Exploration Quarterly 124 (1992): 9–25.
    Zotero
  • Applebaum, S. “Select Inscriptions from the Mt Hermon Temples and Villages.” In The Settlements of Mt. Hermon in Antiquity, edited by S Dar, 33–47. Tel-Aviv, 1988.
    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," SENA0005, 13 August 2026. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89