E01936: Fragmentary Greek inscription referring to *George (soldier and martyr, S00259). Found in Ḥimṣ/Emesa (northwest Phoenicia). Probably 6th-7th c.

online resource

posted on 2016-10-18, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski

+ τοῦ ἁγ(ίου) Γεο[ργίου - - -]

'+ Of Saint George (?) [- - -]'

Text: IGLS 5, no. 2227.

History

Evidence ID

E01936

Saint Name

George, martyr in Nicomedia or Diospolis, ob. c. 303 : S00259

Saint Name in Source

Γεόργιος

Related Saint Records

https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/George_soldier_and_martyr_and_Companions/13729822

Image Caption 1

Drawing. From: IGLS 5, 123.

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)

Language

Greek

Evidence not before

500

Evidence not after

750

Activity not before

500

Activity not after

750

Place of Evidence - Region

Syria with Phoenicia

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Ḥimṣ/Emesa

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Ḥimṣ/Emesa Thabbora Thabbora

Cult activities - Places

Cult building - independent (church)

Source

Fragment of a basalt lintel. Preserved dimensions: H. 0.17 m; W. 0.40 m. Letter height 0.09 m. Letters in low relief. Recorded in a house in Ḥimṣ/Emesa by René Mouterde and published by him with a drawing in 1959.

Discussion

The actual purpose of this inscription is not clear but it might mention a church dedicated to George. Dating: George usually appears in dated Syriac inscriptions only in the 6th c. There is no other way to suggest a plausible date for this text.

Bibliography

Edition: Jalabert, L., Mouterde, R., Mondésert, C., Les inscriptions grecques et latines de la Syrie, vol. 5: Émésène (BAH 66, Paris: P. Guethner, 1959), no. 2227.