Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

ZOOR0038

Negev. Zoora. Friday, March 16, 378 CE. Sandstone tombstone. Epitaph.
Transcription

ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον + Μερώσθα + Ζηνοβίου, παυσαμένη ἐτῶν κʹ, ἔτους σοβʹ, μηνὶ + Δύστρου λʹ, + ἡμέρᾳ Ἀφροδίτης. ΘάρσιΘάρσει, οὐδὶςοὐδείς ἀθάνατος. + + +

Translation

Monument of Merostha, (daughter) of Zenobios, who died (at the age) of 20 years, in (the) year 272, on (the) 30th (day) of (the) month Dystros, on (the) day of Venus (Friday). 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 day of Venus, the 30th day of the month Dystros in the year 272 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, Friday, March 16, 378 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. Though chipped on every side, the face of the tombstone is in very good condition. The text, which contains both spelling and grammatical errors, is engraved in a round script. The word ἐτῶν is abbreviated on line five with the first two letters and the sign S (which is engraved on a slant), while the age and year numerals are each indicated with an overhead horizontal bar. The entire inscription is enclosed within an engraved rectangular frame. A rectangular band is engraved at the top and bottom of the inscription. Within each band is a centered cross-rho monogram, flanked on each side by a palm branch. In the top band, these palm branches face opposite directions, while in the bottom branch they are both oriented left to right. Another cross-rho symbol is engraved at the end of line six. One cross is engraved at the end of lines one, two, six, and seven, while two are engraved after line eleven. In addition, a large outlined cross is engraved below the the entire frame. Within this cross are five engraved chi symbols. The author notes that the name Mερώσθα is unattested elsewhere in the epigraphy of Palestine and Arabia, though he suggests that it may be a variant of the previously attested name Μορεσάθη.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 58.5 cm; W: 32 cm; D: 03.5 cm

Date

378 CE to 378 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Chi within the outlined cross below the text

  • Cross-Rho one each above and below the text, and at the end of line six

  • Palm Branch on both sides of the cross-rhos before and after the text

  • Cross one at the end of the first, second, sixth and seventh lines, two at the end of the eleventh, and one large outlined cross centered below the frame

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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Cite This Inscription

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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," ZOOR0038, 12 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89