Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

ZOOR0273

Negev. Zoora. September 10, in the second half of fourth century CE. Purple and white sandstone tombstone. Epitaph.
Transcription

+ ΜνημῖονΜνημεῖον ἀποθανόντος Εὐσεβίου Θέου, ἐτῶν βʹ. ΘάρσιΘάρσει οὐ. Ἐν μενὶ ΓορπιέουΓορπιαίου κγʹ, ΕΝΟΣ +

Translation

Monument of Eusebios, (son) of Theos, who died (at the age) of 2 years. Be of good cheer, no [one (is) immortal]. (He died) on (the) 23rd (day) of the month Gorpiaios,..

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The only dating information the text offers is the 23rd day of the month Gorpaios, that is, September 10. Other factors have been used to arrive at probable date of the second half of the fourth century 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 is irregular in shape and curved at its upper and lower sides. The inscribed surface has been smoothed, and has undergone flaking and weathering. Two diagonal caveties running from left to the right have obscured some of the text. Above the inscription is an outlined cross, while below is a small simple cross. The text and figures are engraved. The author notes that the name Θέος is otherwise unattested in Palestine and Arabia. She also observes that the word order in the text is incorrect. Only the first two letters of the phrase "οὐδεὶς ἀθάνατος" are engraved (line 5). The inscription contains spelling and grammatical errors.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: 51.5 cm; W: 27 cm; D: 06.5 cm

Date

350 CE to 399 CE

Current location

Department of Antiquities of Jordan

Figures

  • Cross above and below 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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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," ZOOR0273, 19 November 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89