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Location

ZOOR0027

Negev. Zoora. July 29, 369 CE. Sandstone tombstone, engraved and painted. Epitaph.

Transcription

Μνημῖονμνημεῖον ἌψηἌψητος, ἐπισκόπου, παυσαμένου ἐτῶν νεʹ, ἔτους σξδʹ, μηνός Λῴου ιʹ. Θάρσιθάρσει οὐδὶςοὐδείς ἀθάνα+τος + +

Translation

Monument of Apses (the) bishop, who died (at the age) of 55 years, in (the) year 264, on (the) 10th (day) of (the) month Loos. Be of good cheer, no one (is) immortal.

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription provides the date as the 10th day of the month Loos in the year 264 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, July 29, 369 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 spelling and grammatical errors and is engraved and painted red. It is recorded in a round script with fairly consistent letter size until line 7. The tombstone is in good shape, with some salt crystallization. Three crosses appear on the final line, one before the "τος" and two after it. The initial cross on the line is small and very weathered. The first of the two final crosses is outlined, while the second has serifs. The age numeral is marked with two angular symbols to its right and left along with a horizontal bar on top, while the year numeral is marked with only a horizontal bar above it. The month day numeral seems to be marked with a trema. The author notes that the name Ἄψη should instead be in the genitive, necessitating either the form Ἄψου or Ἄψητος. He also points out that the name Ἄψης is relatively frequent in Ghor es-Safi, though there are no known parallels in Israel/Palestine and Arabia. The only other known attestations of the name seem to be in Athens and Cyprus, the people bearing the name being of Phoenician origin. This tombstone records the earliest mention of a bishop in Zoora and the only mention in the epitaphs at Ghor es-Safi thus far of a bishop.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 42 cm; W: 36 cm; D: 10.5 cm

Date

369 CE to 369 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • cross three on the final line, one initial and two after "τος"

  • angular symbols two on each side of the age numeral

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," ZOOR0027, 7 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89