Images

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Location

ZOOR0057

Negev. Zoora. October 2, 387 CE. White sandstone tombstone. Epitaph.

Transcription

+ + ΜνημῖωνΜνημεῖον Ἰωάννου Ἀττικοῦ, ἀποθανόντος ἐτῶν ζʹ,ἔτους σπβʹ, μηνὸς Ὑπερβερεταίου ειʹ. θάρσιθάρσει, οὐδὶςοὐδείς ἀθάνατος. +

Translation

Monument of Ioannes, (son) of Attikos, who died (at the age) of 7 years, in (the) year 282, on the 15th (day) of (the) month Hyperberetaios. 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 15th day of the month Hyperberetaios in the year 282 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, October 2, 387 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 tombstone, which is rectangular, is chipped on all edges and broken at the lower right corner. The script is square with a characteristic rhomboid shape of letters ο and θ (also shared with Zoor0058) and a horizontal bar in the middle of letter ψ. The text is engraved and heavily painted over in red. The inscription is surrounded, except for the lower side, by a frame composed of three palm branches. All three branches are painted red, but only the upper branch is engraved. A cluster of red-painted figures appear between this upper branch and the text: a cross-rho within a radiant sun-disc flanked by two crosses. Of these figures, only the cross-rho is engraved. The text contains several ligatures. An engraved outlined cross is centered below the text. In line four, a horizontal bar tops the age numeral. In line five, a horizontal stroke tops the year numeral. In line seven, the inversion of the month day numeral is denoted by a horizontal bar.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 25 cm; W: 30 cm; D: 09 cm

Date

387 CE to 387 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Cross-rho within sun-disc centered above the text

  • Sun-disc centered above the text inside of the frame

  • Palm-branch three branches comprise the frame surrounding the top, left, and right of the text

  • Cross two flanking the sun-disc and another centered below 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.
    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," ZOOR0057, 13 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89