Images

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Location

ZOOR0035

Negev. Zoora. June 29, 375 CE. Tombstone. Epitaph.

Transcription

ΜνημονΜνημεῖον Ὠμμάβι,ἀπαθανάνταςἀποθανόντος ἐτῶν κηʹ, ἐν μηνί ΠανέμουΠανήμου ιʹ. ΘάρσιΘάρσει, οὐδὶςοὐδείς ἀθόνατοςἀθάνατος ἔτους σοʹ

Translation

Monument of Ommabi, who died (at the age) of 28 years, on (the) 10th (day) of the month Panemos. Be of good cheer, no one (is) immortal. (She died) in (the) year 270.

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription provides the date as the 10th of Panemos in the year 270 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, June 29, 375 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. It is in fair condition, though the text is more difficult to read towards the bottom of the inscription due to salt crystallization over that part of the stone. The text, which contains both spelling and grammatical errors, was engraved in a round script and also painted red (as evidenced by traces of red paint which are still present). An engraved border is visible on the left and right sides of the text along with a vault above the it. The author indicates that the right side of the border and the vault are highlighted in red paint, as well as that a red painted zigzag pattern is found to the right side of the text's boarder. It is of note that this inscription does not contain a patronymic, a rare occurrence at Ghor es-Safi (unless the deceased name is followed by a title), as is the fact that the placement of the "encouragement phrase" unexpectedly breaks up the date. The author indicates that the letter nu in the word ἐτῶν on line 5 is inverted and that the theta on line three is carved in "oblique position". The age numeral is indicated by a horizontal bar above the letters. The author also points out that the month day numeral iota on line six is more conspicuous because it bears a trema. In addition, he suggests that the letter mu which is seen at the end of the first line seems to have been an attempt by the engraver to begin the name on the following line. Finally, he also notes that the word μηνί on line 5 is abbreviated with a small eta written over a larger mu, and that the final sigma of the word ἔτους on line 8 is also used for the first letter of the following year numeral.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 44 cm; W: 37 cm; D: 7 cm

Date

375 CE to 375 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Vault above the text

  • Zigzag patter outside the boarder on the right side of the text

  • Border on the right and left side of the 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.
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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," ZOOR0035, 13 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89