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Location

ZOOR0052

Negev. Zoora. March 16, 386 CE. White sandstone tombstone. Epitaph.

Transcription

+ + ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον ι + Παῦλος ΔομετίουΔομιτίου, ἀποθάναντοςἀποθανόντος + ν + ἐτῶν + λʹ, + ἔτους διακοσσιαστοῦδιακοσιοστοῦ ὀγδηκστοῦὀγδoηκοστοῦ, μηνὸς Δύστρου τριακάδι, ἐν ἡμέρᾳ Ἡλίου. +

Translation

Monument of Paulus, (son) of Dometios (Domitius), who died (at the age) of 30 years, in (the) two hundred and eightieth year, on the thirtieth (day) of (the) month Dystros, on the day of (the) Sun (Sunday).

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription provides the date as the 30th day of the month Dystros in the year 280 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, March 16, 386 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 surface is chipped, flaked off, and worn in several places. Except for an occasional square σ, the script is round alphabet. The text, which contains both spelling and grammatical errors, is surrounded by deeply engraved guide-lines which extend downward beyond the inscription, leaving space for another three lines. Cross figures appear above, below, and within the inscription. One inscribed cross is centered above the first line of text, and another cross appears at the end of it. The author also suggests that a cross may have been engraved in the beginning of the first line. Two pairs of crosses appear within the text. The first pair flanks the seemingly superfluous letter ν in line four, while the second flanks the age numeral in line five. The last cross figure appears at the end of the final line of text. Although the script, figures, and guide-lines were originally painted over in red, traces of the paint are only visible now in the first four lines.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 54 cm; W: 32.5 cm; D: 05 cm

Date

386 CE to 386 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Guide between lines of text, continuing three lines below

  • Cross (see note)

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," ZOOR0052, 12 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89