Images

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Location

ZOOR0173

Negev. Zoora. August 12, 443 CE. Greenish sandstone tombstone. Epitaph.

Transcription

ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον Κύρα Θεοδώρου, ἀποθανοῦσα μετὰ καλοῦ ὀνόματος ἐτῶν ηʹ, ἔτους τληʹ, μηνὸς Λῴου δκʹ, ἡμέρᾳ Κυρίου εʹ. ΘάρσιΘάρσει, οὐδὶςοὐδεὶς ἀθάνανατοςἀθάνατος. + +

Translation

Monument of Kyra, (daughter) of Theodoros, who died having [a good name] (at the age) of 8 years, in (the) year 338, on (the) 24th (day) of (the) month Loos, on (the) 5th day of (the) Lord (Thursday). 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 5th day of the Lord (Thursday), the 24th day of the month Loos in the year 338 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, August 12, 443 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 originally rectangular tombstone is broken at the upper right and lower left and right corners, chipped all around its edges, and mended from two fragments. The text is engraved in a round alphabet upon a smoothed surface, which is badly damaged and has accumulations of salt crystals in the upper section. Lines one, three, five, seven, and nine are painted over in red. The inscription is surrounded by an engraved frame, which is also painted red. A vase with handles is centered below the frame and flanked by two outlined crosses with serifs. The editor notes that this vase resembles a censer if viewed upside down. All of these figures are engraved and painted red. Line three is badly weathered, and line four is entirely eroded. Two serpentine motifs flank the age numeral in line five and the year numeral in line six. Three such motifs flank the text of line ten. The month day numeral in line seven is inverted. The letters alpha and nu at the end of line nine are repeated at the beginning of line ten. The text contains both spelling and grammatical errors.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 42 cm; W: 28 cm; D: 03 cm

Date

443 CE to 443 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Cross flanking the vase below the text

  • Guide-lines set within the text

  • Serpentine motif (see note)

  • Frame surrounding the text

  • Vase 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," ZOOR0173, 12 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89