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Location

ZOOR0201

Negev. Zoora. January 1, 455. Tombstone of purple and yellowish sandstone. Epitaph.

Transcription

+ + +Εἶς θεός. ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον Μαργαλίης Θεοδούλου, ἀποθανούσης μετὰ καλοῦ ὀνοηατοςὀνόματος ἐτῶν ιηʹ, ἐν μηνὶ ΑὐδονέουΑὐδυναίου ιςʹ, τοῦ ἔτους τμθʹ, ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ζʹ. θάρσιθἀρσει, οὐδὶςοὐδείς ἀθάνατος.

Translation

One (is) the God. Monument of Margalie, (daughter) of Theodoulos, who died having a good name (at the age) of 18 years, on (the) 16th (day) of (the) month Audynaios, in the year 349, on (the) 7th day (Saturday). 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 7th day of the Lord (Saturday), the 16th day of the month Audynaios in the year 349 according to the Era of the Province of Arabia, that is, January 1, 455. 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. This tombstone is nearly rectangular, with breaks in the upper and lower right corners, and has been mended from two fragments. The inscription has a frame, which is incised and painted red, and is almost square in shape. Above the inscription, but in the middle of the frame, is an outlined, incised cross, with a few dividing lines on it. Two engraved crosses of different shape flank this central cross, the left one having triangular serifs and the right formed by four triangles. Both are painted red. The text itself is engraved, while lines one, four, and seven of the text have been painted over in red color. The square script of the text is carved well, though the letters are not well aligned. This is the only attestation of the name Μαργαλίη in Palestine and Arabia. The author suggests that it is a Hellenized Semitic name, possibly containing a theophoric compound of the word marg, "garden" and 'El. The possibly related name Μαργούλη was attested in Saida, in Phoenicia.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 52 cm; W: 35 cm; D: 07 cm

Date

455 CE to 455 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Frame surrounding inscription

  • Cross three, above inscription

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
  • K.D., Politis. “Biblical Zoar: The Looting of an Ancient Site.” Minerva 5, no. 6 (December 1994): 13.
    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," ZOOR0201, 13 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89