Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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ZOOR0023

Negev. Zoora. May 18, 363 CE. Sandstone tombstone, engraved and painted. Epitaph.
Transcription

+ ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον + Ὄββης Σαμάκωνος παυσαμένης ἐτῶν ιεʹ ἐν τῷ σιζμῷσεισμῷ ἔτους σνηʹ μηνὸς Ἀρτεμισίου ηκʹ Θάρσιθάρσει Ὄββη οὐδὶςοὐδεὶς ἀθάνατος + Εἷς Θεός + +

Translation

Monument of Obbe, (daughter) of Samakon, who died (at the age) of 15 years during the earthquake, in (the) year 258, on (the) 28th (day) of (the) month Artemisios, on (the) day of (the) Moon (Monday). Be of good cheer, Obbe, no one (is) immortal. One (is) the God.

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription provides the date as the 28th day of the month Artemisios on the day of the Moon in the year 258 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, Monday May 18, 363 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 numerous spelling errors, and is recorded in a round alphabet with the letters both engraved and painted red. Guide lines are still visible in certain parts of the text. There are numerous crosses engraved in this inscription: The word "μνημῖον" on line one is flanked by crosses, line eleven and twelve each end with a cross, and there is a large isosceles cross below the text. The age, year and inverted month day numeral are all indicated with a horizontal stroke above them. The word ἐτῶν is abbreviated with the first two letters and a small oblique stroke to the upper right of the tau, while the word μηνὸςis abbreviated with a small eta over a mu. In this epitaph, as well as in zoor0022 and zoor0024, the cause of death is indicated to have been the earthquake, recorded by many ancient writers, which took place on May 18th, 363 CE. These three inscriptions are, so far as we know, the only epigraphical records of the date and occurrence of an earthquake in this region. The earthquake seems to have caused damage throughout most of Transjordan and Palestine, and in many accounts is seen to have been divine retribution for the Emperor Julian's attempt to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. The author notes that the phrase "Εἷς Θεός" is found commonly in inscriptions from the East starting in the late third century CE (and becoming increasingly common in the fourth and firth centuries CE), though its placement at Ghor es-Safi is usually at the beginning of the epitaph. The author notes that the deceased named in Zoor00024, Samakon, may be the father of Obbe. This is based upon the patronymic found in this inscription as well as the relative ages of the two figures.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 45 cm; W: 28 cm; D: 08 cm

Date

363 CE to 363 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • cross beginning and end of first line, end of eleventh line, end of twelfth line, below text

  • guide lines between 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," ZOOR0023, 13 October 2024. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89