E02665: Greek inscriptions on stone. Found in the sanctuary (hagios topos) of *Lot (Old Testament patriarch, S01234) at Deir 'Ain 'Abata near Zoara/modern Ghor es-Safi on the southeast shore of the Dead Sea (Jordan/Roman province of Palaestina III). Probably 6th-7th c.

Inscription 1:

White sandstone lintel. Decorated with mouldings. Weathered face. Broken and lost in the upper left-hand corner. H. 0.225 m; W. 0.78 m; Th. 0.20 m. Letter height 0.009-0.02 m. Reportedly found in the apse in the south aisle of the church.

[ὁ εἰσιὼν (?) ἐν τῷ] ̣ἁγίῳ τόπῳ τούτῳ, εὐξάσθω ὑπὲρ το̣ῦ ἐλεεινοῦ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ οἰκο-
δόμου

'[Let him who enters] this holy place, pray for me, the humble mason!'

Text: Politis 2012, 410-411, no. 8 [ed. and translation Y. Meimaris & K.I. Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou].

The editors suppose that the architect (oikodomos) mentioned in this request, was the constructor of the church of Lot or another building at the site of the monastery. They add that the structure could be seen as a gift to the saint by the architect.

Inscription 2:

Sandstone slab with a very rough surface. Found to the north of the church, in a courtyard of the monastery (sometimes described as the site of the pilgrims' hostel). H. 0.29 m; W. 0.48 m; Th. 0.08 m. Letter height 0.035-0.075 m.

+ μνήσθ(ητι),
Κ(ύρι)ε, Ἰωάννου
Προκοπίου τοῦ
κτίσαντος

'+ O Lord, remember Ioannes, son of Prokopios, the founder!'

Text: Politis 2012, 409-410, no. 6 [ed. and translation Y. Meimaris & K.I. Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou].

The editors suppose that Ioannes, son of Prokopios, here described as a donor or founder was probably responsible for the construction of the pilgrims' hostel.

Inscription 3:

Two conjoining fragments of a white-pinkish sandstone cornice. Found in the pilgrims' hostel. Fragment A: H. 0.175 m; W. 0.32 m; Th. 0.245 m. Fragment B: H. 0.175 m; W. 0.17 m; Th. 0.245 m. Letter height 0.02-0.04 m. The engraved letters were painted red.

+ μνήσθητι, Κύ(ριε), ̣Παύλ̣ο[υ - - -]

'+ O Lord, remember Paulos [- - -]!'

Text: Politis 2012, 410, no. 7 [ed. and translation Y. Meimaris & K.I. Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou].

Meimaris and Kritikakou-Nikolaropoulou mention four more fragmentary stones with scarcely legible inscriptions, that were found at the sanctuary. As they are not relevant for the present study, we do not reproduce them here. For the text, see Politis 2012, 411-412, nos. 9-12.