Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

ZOOR0031

Negev. Zoora. May 10, 372 CE. Sandstone tombstone, engraved and painted. Epitaph.
Transcription

+ + + Μνημῖονμνημεῖον ΕἰλιανὸςΑἰλιανός Σηάλλου, ἀποθανόντος ἐτῶνλεʹ, ἔτουςσξζʹ, μηνὸς Ἀρτεμισίου κʹ, ἡμέρᾳ Διός.++

Translation

Monument of Aelianus, (son) of Seallos, who died (at the age) of 35 years, in (the) year 267, on (the) 20th (day) of (the) month Artemisios, on (the) day of Jupiter (Thursday).

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription provides the date as the 20th of Artemisios in the year 267 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, May 10, 372 CE. The tombstone is one of about 700 discovered in Byzantine Zoora and is in fair condition. The majority of the Greek tombstones from this location have been identified as Christian. The text of the inscription is enclosed by an engraved rectangular frame and is itself engraved in a round script and is colored in with red paint. Three crosses, engraved and painted red, are arranged horizontally above the text, outside the frame. Two more engraved and painted crosses appear below the text. These crosses are arranged vertically and centered on the text. One of these two is inside the rectangular frame. The text contains both a spelling and a grammatical error. The author notes that the name Αἰλιανός (spelled here as Εἰλιανός) is rare within Israel/Palestine. He also suggests that the Hellenized Semitic name Σηάλλας (or possibly Σεάλλας) may translate as "companion of Allah". The age and month day numerals are marked with a solid horizontal bar over all the letters, while the year numeral is marked with a separate short horizontal bar over each letter.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 54 cm; W: 30.5 cm; D: 09 cm

Date

372 CE to 372 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Five Crosses three above the text arranged horizontally, two below arranged vertically

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.
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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," ZOOR0031, 13 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89