E02396: Floor-mosaics with Greek and Christian-Palestinian Aramaic inscriptions commemorating the restoration and paving of an unnamed martyr shrine (martyrion). Found at Khirbat al-Kursi in the suburbs of Philadelphia/Amman (Roman province of Arabia/Jordan). Probably late 6th or early 7th c.

Greek inscriptions:

Inscription 1:

Rectangular mosaic panel framed by a tabula ansata. Set in the floor of the hall (nave), in front of the presbyterium. Red letters (the last word of each line is rather pinkish), letter height 0.07 m.

+ Χ(ριστ)̣έ, βο[ήθι] Ἀναστα[σίου] μετὰ τῆς ̣γ̣υνευός· ἀμήν.
+ χά̣ρ̣ιτι τῖς [Ἁγί]̣ας Τριάδ(ος) ἀ[νενεώθη] κ(αὶ) ἐψεφώθι τὸ μαρτύριο(ν)
τοῦτω ἐπ[ὶ τοῦ] ὡσ[ιω]τάτω [κ(αὶ) φιλο]χρίστου [Θω]μᾶ ἐπισκώ(που)
σπο(υ)δε͂ς κ(αὶ) [ἐπιμελείᾳ τῶν εὐλαβεσ]τάτον π[ρεσ]β(υτέρων) ̣Σ[ο]μμ̣α̣σ̣ε-
ου κ(αὶ) Θεωδό[ρου - - -]ου. χρόνον πρότ[ης ἰ]νδ(ικτιῶνος) [- - -]

4. κ(αὶ) [ἐπιμελείᾳ κ(αὶ)- - -]τα τõν π[ρεσ]β(υτέρων) Piccirillo || ἰ]νδ(ικτίονος) Piccirillo

'+ O Christ, help Anastasios with his wife! Amen. + Through the grace of the Holy Trinity was restored and paved this martyr shrine (martyrion) under the most venerable and Christ-loving bishop Thomas, by the zeal and under the supervision of the most reverent presbyters Sommaseos and Theodoros [- - -]. In the times of the first indiction [- - -].'

Inscription 2:

Small framed squarish panel. Set in the floor of the hall (nave) in front of the presbyterium, to the right of Inscription 1, next to the south wall of the chapel. Red letters, letter height 0.08 m.

+ Χρ(ιστέ), β<ο>ήθι
Ἰωάννου
προσβυ<τ>ήρ(ου)
S Ἰωάννου
μοναχοῦ

1. ΒΣΗΘΙ mosaic || 3. ΠΡΟΣΒΥΙΗΡ mosaic || 4. S = abbreviation of προσβυ<τ>ήρ(ου) SEG, S = abbreviation of καί Piccirillo

'+ O Christ, help the presbyter Ioannes, and (?) the monk Ioannes!'

Text: Piccirillo & 'Amr 1998, nos. 1-2 with lightly modified transcription in SEG 38, 1660-1661. Translation: M. Piccirillo, 'A. J. 'Amr, lightly adapted.

Christian-Palestinian-Aramaic inscriptions:

Inscription 3:

Set in the floor of the presbyterium, at the south half of the east border of the carpet mosaic. Red letters.

] ܡܪ ܝܣܘܤ ܐܬܪܚܡ ܥܠ ܫܘܡܫ [+]

'[+] Lord Jesus, have mercy upon Shumash [- - -]!'

Text and translation: Puech 1988, 385.

Inscription 4:

Set in the floor of the presbyterium, at the north half of the east border of the carpet mosaic. Black letters.

] ܡܪ (?) ܝ]ܣܘܤ ܡܫܚܐ ܐܬܪܚܡ ܥܠ ܫܘܡܫ (?) +]

[+ (?) Lord (?) Je]sus Christ, have mercy upon Shumash [- - -]

Text and translation: Puech 1988, 386.

Inscription 5:

Set in the floor of the hall (nave) in front of the presbyterium, to the left of Inscription 1, next to the north wall of the chapel. Black letters on white background.

ܫܘ[ܡܫ(ܝ?)]ܐ
ܘܝܘܚܢ]ܤ]
ܒܢܝ ܫ]ܘܡܫ]
ܡܪܐ/ܢ [ܥ]ܠܝܗܘܢ
ܐܬ]ܪܚܡ]
'Shu[msh]a(ios?) [and Yohann]es (?) [sons of Sh]ūmash, [Lord, have] mercy on them!'

Text and translation: Puech 1988, 388.