Images

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Location

ZOOR0183

Negev. Zoora. April 21, 448 CE. Yellowish sandstone tombstone. Epitaph.

Transcription

+ ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον Παῦλος Ὀφρότου, ἀποθανὀντος μετὰ καλοῦ ὀνόματος ἐτῶν ὀκτώ, μηνὶ Ἀρτεμεσίῳ πρώτῃ, τοῦ ἔτους τριακοσσιοστοῦ τεσαρακοστοῦ τρίτου. + + + + +

Translation

Monument of Paulus, (son) of Ofrotas, who died having a good name (at the age) of eight years, on the first (day) of (the) month Artemisios, in the three hundred and forty-third year.

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The inscription provides the 1st day of the month Artemisios in the year 343 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, April 21, 448 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 rectangular tombstone is curved below and chipped all around. Written predominantly in square script with a few round exceptions, the text is engraved upon a smoothed surface, which is weathered in the right section. Lines one, five, eight, and eleven are painted over in red. The inscription is surrounded by a rectangular frame and set within guide-lines. The vertical left side and part of the horizontal sides of the frame are engraved and painted red. The rest of the frame, like the guide-lines, is drawn in heavy red paint. A scene appears above the text consisting of a central outlined cross with four small circles in its corners and inscribed within a double-outlined circle filled with a linear pattern. Another small cross flanked by two birds appears above this figure. Only traces of the birds remain. These figures are all drawn in red paint, except for the small cross, which is also engraved. Another five crosses appear at the end of line eleven, engraved and painted red. The text contains both spelling and grammatical errors.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 44 cm; W: 28 cm; D: 0.06 cm

Date

448 CE to 448 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Frame surrounding the text

  • Cross (see note)

  • Guide-lines set within the text

  • Birds flanking the small cross

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," ZOOR0183, 7 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89