Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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ZOOR0138

Negev. Zoora. November 10, 431 CE. White sandstone tombstone. Epitaph.
Transcription

+ ΜνημῖανΜνημεῖον + Παρθενίου, ἀποθανόντος ἐτῶν οʹ, ἔτους τριακοσσιοστοῦτριακοσιοστοῦ κςʹ, μηνὸς Δίου κδʹ, ἡμέρᾳ Κυρίου γʹ. + + +

Translation

Monument of Parthenios, who died (at the age) of 70 years, in (the) three hundred and 26th year, on the 24th (day) of (the) month Dios, on (the) 3rd day of (the) Lord (Tuesday).

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription records the date as the 3rd day of the Lord (Tuesday), the 24th day of the month Dios in the year 326 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, November 10, 431 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. Originally rectangular, the stone is broken at the lower right corner and curved in the lower left and upper right corners. It is also chipped all around. The smoothed, inscribed surface is flaked off in the upper section. The engraved text, written in a mixture of round and square script, is painted red in lines one, three, and five. Above the text to the right, a simple cross is incised and painted red. A cross also appears on the first of the text, preceding the name of the deceased. Three crosses appear below the text. The middle cross, both engraved and painted red, is outlined with a red painted letter chi in its center. This central cross is flanked by two similar crosses, which are only painted. A red painted, vertical palm branch appears below these three crosses. A horizontal bar appears above the age numeral in line two and the weekday numeral in line five. A horizontal stroke appears above the tens and units figures of the year numeral in line three.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 37.5 cm; W: 32.5 cm; D: 05 cm

Date

431 CE to 431 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Letter chi inscribed within the crosses below the text

  • Palm branch beneath crosses below the inscription

  • Cross above and below the text, 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. insc 138.
    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," ZOOR0138, 27 July 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89