Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

SEPP0005

Galilee. Sepphoris, 400 CE - 500 CE. Synagogue. Black and white floor mosaic. Dedication.
Transcription

דכירן לטב תנחום בר יודן וסמקה ונהרי בנוי דתנחום אמן

Translation

Remembered be for good Tanhum son of Yudan and Samqah and Nehorai sons of Tanhum . Amen.

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
These inscriptions were placed in the square panels appearing at the junctions between the circles that comprise the mosaic carpet in the northern aisle. The pattern suggests that there were originally thirteen dedicatory inscriptions in all. This one is preserved in its entirety. The blessing of this inscription is formulated in the plural, unlike the others. While Tanhum and Yudan are common names, Samqah and Nehorai are less common. The first appears in talmudic literature as a nickname meaning "Redhead;" the second derives from an Aramaic word for "light" and was common among the tannaim and amoraim of ancient Palestine.

Languages

Aramaic, Hebrew

Dimensions

H: 38 cm; W: 38 cm; D: —

Date

400 CE to 500 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

No figures described.

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

  • Weiss, Zeev. The Sepphoris Synagogue: Deciphering an Ancient Message through Its Archaeological and Socio-Historical Contexts. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 2005.
    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," SEPP0005, 13 August 2026. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89