E04337: Two Greek graffiti in cursive script, found in the martyr shrine at the North Church at Nessana/Auja Hafir in the Negev desert (Roman province of Palaestina III) of uncertain purpose, listing saints and holy men and women, many undocumented elsewhere; one of the graffiti apparently making reference to dates. Probably 5th - mid-6th c.

For other inscriptions from this part of the North Church, see E04336.

Inscription 1:

Written in cursive script on a chalk voussoir. H. 0.35 m; W. 0.54 m. Found in Room 14, in the south middle arch, certainly in situ. The proper inscription is flanked by invocations of God as the Lord.

(a): in the upper left-hand corner, in big letters:

Κύριε, βοέθιε
Στ(έ)φνος

'O Lord, help Stephanos!'

(b):

ἅγιος Μάρκος
ἅγιος Βλείφιμος
ἅγιος Μανικός
ἅγιος Ἀμβράσιος (sic)
ἅγιος Εἰσίδορος
ἅγιος Νόνιος
ἅγιος Πάμφιλος
ἀββᾶς Ῥομ[α]νός
ἀββᾶς Μάναλας
ἀββᾶς Κίριλλος
ἀββᾶς Ζενόβιος
ἀββᾶς Χαρείτων
ἀββᾶς Σαμῶρ
ἀββᾶς Σαβ[ῖν]̣ο̣ς
ἀββᾶς Γε[ρ]μαν(ός)
ὀμ[μ]άνα Ἄννα
ὀμ[μ]άνα Μάθρα (sic)
ὀμμάνα Φ̣εστ̣ε̣ι .οτε (possibly: Φ̣α[υ]στεῖ[ν]̣α)

(c): in the lower right-hand corner, in big letters:

Κύ(ριε), μνίσθιθι τοῦ δούλου καὶ παν-
τὸς τοῦ ὔκου αὐτοῦ
Θαλελέου

(a): 'O Lord, help Stephanos!'

(b): 'Saint Mark, Saint Bliphimos, Saint Manikos, Saint Ambrosios, Saint Isidoros, Saint Nonios, Saint Pamphilos, Abbas Romanos, Abbas Manalas, Abbas Kyrillos, Abbas Zenobios, Abbas Chariton, Abbas Samor, Abbas Sabinos, Abbas Germanos. Ommana Anna, Ommana Martha, Ommana Phisti[- - -].'

(c): 'O Lord, remember Thy servant and all his household. Thalelaios.'

Text: I. Nessana, no. 38. Translation: G.E. Kirk & C. Bradford Welles, lightly adapted.

Inscription 2:

The inscription is written in cursive script on a chalk block from Room 14. Letter height 0.01 m. Three lines are distinguishable in the drawing. It is clear that first two lines begin with the word ἡμέρα (possibly in the accusative form: ἡμεραν). The editors are, however, unsure whether this is followed by names. For line 1 they suggest tentative readings: ἡμέραν Ἰοσήφ/'(On?) the day of Joseph' or ἡμέραν Ηἰοῦν/'(On?) the day of Ayyun.'

Text: I. Nessana, no. 41.

Other fragmentary inscriptions found in the same area contain names of months (I. Nessana, no. 42: Apellaios), and possibly the name Demetrios in the genitive form (I. Nessana, no. 43).