E03496: Greek inscription on a balance scale, possibly invoking the God of *George (soldier and martyr, S00259). Found at Dor (Tanturah) bay, to the north of Caesarea Maritima (Roman province of Palaestina I). Probably late antique.

The balance bears three inscriptions, punched on the short section of its lever:

Inscription C was transcribed by de Presle as: ΙCΧC Ο ΘΕ Γ Ε ΨΡ and expanded:

Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστὸ)ς κ(αὶ) ὁ θε(ὸς) γ(εννηθεὶς), ἐ(λεήσον) Ψ(- - -) Ρ(- - -)

'Jesus Christ and begotten God, have mercy on Psates, of Rhion (or: Psates, son of Rhion)!'

Text: CIIP 2, no. 2143. Translation: W. Ameling, lightly modified.

However, Jean Gascou in Bulletin épigraphique (2013), 463 suggests a different reading of the inscription, based on the drawing published in CIIP 2:

(christogram) ΙCΧCΚΟΘΕΓΕΙΩΡ/ which can be expanded for example as (christogram) Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστὸ)ς, Κ(ύρι)ε, Θ(ε)ὲ Γειωρ(γίου)/'(christogram) Jesus Christ, Lord, God of George!'

Gatier points out that the name George/Georgios is spelt in the same way (Γειώργιος) in Inscription A from the same balance: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστὸ)ς βοήθισον | Γειωργίου ΩΙCΟΙΟΝΟC/'Jesus Christ, give help to Georgios (Geiorgios), son of ...'

Inscription B says the balance was the property of Sotirichos and Artemon.