E02215: Greek inscription just possibly referring to *Elijah (Old Testament prophet, S00217). Found at Breikeh (ancient Borechath Sabaon), to the north of Dionysias and Bostra (Roman province of Arabia). Dated 505/506.

The inscription is on a basalt lintel (H. 0.29 m; W. 1.46-1.63 m; Th. 0.40 m; letter height 0.08-0.10 m) set over a doorway to a stable, in a complex of apparently ancient houses. It was recorded for the first time only recently, by Annie Sartre-Fauriat and Maurice Sartre. The actual meaning of the inscription is not clear, but it might refer to the prophet Elijah (perhaps to a church dedicated to the saint) or to an homonymous founder of the building. Line 2 contains a date probably computed as the 400th year of the era of the province of Arabia, which corresponds to AD 505/506:

+ Ἠλίας Β Θεοφίλα
Φ ΙΧΙ ἔτους υ΄

2. possibly φ(ύλαξον) Χ(ριστέ) the Sartres

For further comments see the edition in IGLS 15/2, no. 405a.