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Location

ZOOR0007

Negev. Zoora. November 11, 345 CE. Sandstone tombstone, engraved and painted. Epitaph.

Transcription

ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον Σαρίδας ΠιθολάουΠειθολάου ἀρχισυνόγωγοςἀρχισυνάγωγος ἀποθανόντοἀποθανόντος ἐτῶν οʹ ἔτους σμʹ ἡμέρᾳ Σελήνης μηνὰςμηνός Δίου κεʹ ΘάρσιΘάρσει οὐδὶς ἀθάνατος

Translation

Monument of Saridas, (son) of P(e)itholaos, the archisynagogos, who died (at the age) of 70 years, in (the) year 240, on (the) day of (the) Moon (Monday), on (the) 25th (day) of (the) month Dios. Be of good cheer, no one (is) immortal.

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription provides a date of the 25th day of Dios in the year 240 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, or November 11, 345 CE. The tombstone is one of about 700 discovered in Byzantine Zoora. The majority of the Greek tombstones from this location have been identified as Christian. The inscription contains both orthographic and grammatical errors and was recorded in a mixture of square and round script. The text is engraved and painted red. Engraved guide lines are visible between each line of text, as is a square border engraved around the entire epitaph. A vertical stroke is visible after the second μ on line 1, possibly indicating a failed attempt at the inscription of the next letter. The stone is in a good state of preservation, and the text is very clear. In addition, the author notes that there may be a decorative character in the style of a siglum S before the year numeral on the seventh line. Lines 2 and 8 both end with an angular motif. Line 10 ends in Θα, which likely indicates the letter cutter began θάρσι on that line, then decided instead to place the entire word on the next. The title archisynagogos -- usually designating the head of a synagogue, but possibly honorific, or hereditary, rather than functional -- is usually found in a Jewish context, but it is also recorded in certain instances (though none within Palestine) as referring to prominent pagan leaders of certain associations. Still, that author suggests that despite the language (Greek) and formulation (seemingly Christian) of the epitaph, it "is not unlikely" that the deceased is Jewish.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: —; W: —; D: —

Date

345 CE to 345 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Carved rectangular frame around the text

  • angular motif end of the second line

  • angular motif end of the eighth line

  • Guide lines between the lines 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

  • Meimaris, Yiannis, and Kalliope Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou. Inscriptions from Palaestina Tertia Vol. Ia: The Greek Inscriptions from Ghor Es-Safi (Byzantine Zoora). Athens, Greece: National Hellenic Research Foundation, 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," ZOOR0007, 13 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89