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E02341: A niche at the entrance to the 'episcopal complex' of Gerasa/Jerash (Jordan/Roman province of Arabia) has painted inscriptions, with the names of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), and of the Archangels *Michael (S00181) and *Gabriel (S00192). Probably 5th c. or later.
online resource
posted on 2017-02-07, 00:00 authored by pnowakowskiAn arched niche (c. 1.60 m high, 1.15 m wide, and 0.60 m deep), carved in a stone block (c. 4.10 m high, 4.30 m wide) in the outer wall of the apse of the so-called cathedral of the episcopal complex in Jerash, and facing all visitors approaching the complex up the stairway from the main street of the city, bears the names of Mary and the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, painted in red on the archivolt of its semi-dome (letter height: 0.02 m).
Μιχαήλ ἡ ἁγία Μαρία Γαβριήλ
'Michael' 'The Holy Mary' 'Gabriel'
Text: I. Gerasa, no. 288.
The niche was partially damaged and subsequently restored during the excavations. It seems that it was covered by a grill and an image of Mary with the Archangels might have been displayed on its wall or semidome, as traces of three painted figures were recognisable on the conch. A hypothetical restoration of the niche was presented in the classic study of Jerash by Carl Kraeling.
The date of the creation of the niche is not clear. We do not know whether it was contemporary with the construction of the cathedral church (whose chronology is also blurred, but which might date to the late 4th c.), or was made later, in the late 5th or 6th. It is also impossible to say whether the painted inscription was added at the same time as the niche's construction.
For a possibly similar niche in the outer wall of an apse, see the comments and images in: E01832 (inside the ambulatory of the cathedral church of Apamea in Syria).
Μιχαήλ ἡ ἁγία Μαρία Γαβριήλ
'Michael' 'The Holy Mary' 'Gabriel'
Text: I. Gerasa, no. 288.
The niche was partially damaged and subsequently restored during the excavations. It seems that it was covered by a grill and an image of Mary with the Archangels might have been displayed on its wall or semidome, as traces of three painted figures were recognisable on the conch. A hypothetical restoration of the niche was presented in the classic study of Jerash by Carl Kraeling.
The date of the creation of the niche is not clear. We do not know whether it was contemporary with the construction of the cathedral church (whose chronology is also blurred, but which might date to the late 4th c.), or was made later, in the late 5th or 6th. It is also impossible to say whether the painted inscription was added at the same time as the niche's construction.
For a possibly similar niche in the outer wall of an apse, see the comments and images in: E01832 (inside the ambulatory of the cathedral church of Apamea in Syria).
History
Evidence ID
E02341Saint Name
Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033 Gabriel, the Archangel : S00192 Michael, the Archangel : S00181Related Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Graffiti Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements Archaeological and architectural - Cult buildings (churches, mausolea) Archaeological and architectural - Internal cult fixtures (crypts, ciboria, etc.) Archaeological and architectural - Extant reliquaries and related fixtures Images and objects - Wall paintings and mosaicsLanguage
GreekEvidence not before
375Evidence not after
800Activity not before
375Activity not after
800Place of Evidence - Region
ArabiaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
Gerasa/JerashPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Gerasa/Jerash Sakkaia / Maximianopolis Σακκαια Sakkaia Saccaea Eaccaea Maximianopolis Shaqqa Schaqqa ShakkaCult activities - Places
Cult building - dependent (chapel, baptistery, etc.)Cult activities - Use of Images
- Public display of an image