Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

ZOOR0366

Zoora, 1 July 384 CE. Tombstone. Funerary (Epitaph).
Transcription

+ + Μνημῖον μνημεῖον ΣαμιράββουἈβδισάρου,ἀποθανόντος ἐν ὁσιότητι ἐτῶν κε, ἐν ἰνδικτιῶνι γι, ἔτους σοθ, μηνὸς Πονέμου Πανήμου βι,ἡμέρᾳ Σελήνης. +

Translation

Monument of Samirabbos, (son) of Abdisharos, who died in holiness (at the age) of 25 years, in (the) 13th indiction, in the year 279, on (the) 12th (day) of (the) month Panemos, on the day of (the) Moon (Monday).

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
The use of an indiction year in the dating formula of this late fourth century epitaph is noteworthy because it is so far the earliest attestation of this chronological element not only in the inscriptions of Zoora but also in that of Palestine and Arabia. In Palestine, indiction years are recorded only around the mid-fifth century and the earliest recorded version in Arabia dates to about 389 CE. The indiction numeral used in the epitaph should not be γι (which itself is inverted) but should instead be ιβ. This could be due to the original author's own mistake, or could reflect the use of the Egyptian indictional system.

Languages

Greek

Dimensions

H: —; W: —; D: —

Date

384 CE to 384 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • Red paint on lettering and decorations

  • Rectangular frame, coarsely engraved around the inscription

  • Incised oblique lines imitating vertically split palm branches which turn into full palm branches at the top (left one is placed in oblique, while the right one is in straight position). along the external part of the vertical frame lines

  • Flat outlined cross, flanked by a slender cross with triangulated serifs on the left and a cross-rho monogram on the right. above the frame

Bibliography

Source of diplomatic

  • Meimaris, Yiannis E., and Kalliope Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou. Inscriptions from Palaestina Tertia Vol. 1b. The Greek Inscriptions from Ghor Es-Safi (Byzantine Zoora) (Supplement), Khirbet Qazone and Feinan. Vol. 1b. Athens, 2008.
    Zotero

Source of transcription

  • Meimaris, Yiannis E., and Kalliope Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou. Inscriptions from Palaestina Tertia Vol. 1b. The Greek Inscriptions from Ghor Es-Safi (Byzantine Zoora) (Supplement), Khirbet Qazone and Feinan. Vol. 1b. Athens, 2008.
    Zotero

Source of translation

  • Meimaris, Yiannis E., and Kalliope Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou. Inscriptions from Palaestina Tertia Vol. 1b. The Greek Inscriptions from Ghor Es-Safi (Byzantine Zoora) (Supplement), Khirbet Qazone and Feinan. Vol. 1b. Athens, 2008.
    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," ZOOR0366, 8 December 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89