E04352: Fragmentary Greek graffiti invoking the God of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), probably *Sergios (soldier and martyr in Rusafa, S00023), and saints whose names are lost. Scattered over unrecorded locations at Nessana/Auja Hafir in the Negev desert (Roman province of Palaestina III). Probably 6th-7th c.
online resource
posted on 2017-11-10, 00:00 authored by BryanInscription 1:
On a chalk block. Graffiti are scratched on two adjacent faces. Dimensions of Face A: 0.16 m x 0.21 m; Face B: 0.19 m x 0.16 m. Letter height c. 0.02 m. The drawing published by the editors shows more letters than the transcription they offer. Below we present transcriptions based on the drawing:
Face A:
Κ(ύρι)ε ὁ θε(ὸς) τοῦ [ἁγίου]
Στεφάνου [- - -]
[- - -]
Τιμοθέ[ου - - -]
||ΡΙΛ
'O Lord, God of [Saint] Stephen [- - -] Timotheos [- - -].'
Face B:
+ CΙ
+ Κ(ύρι)ε ὁ θε[ός - - -]
Α Ω
'+ O Lord, God of [- - -]. Α Ω.'
Text: I. Nessana, no. 109.
Inscription 2:
On a limestone fragment. H. 0.34 m; W. 0.20 m. Letter height 0.02-0.03 m. The Greek texts are accompanied by an Armenian graffito. Found on the east side of the acropolis hill. Original location unknown.
CΕΡ̣Κ̣Κ̣Ρ
σõσον
ΧΤ..ΙC
ο
ἐπαί-
νου
'O Sergios (?) [- - -] save [- - -]. Praise (?)'
Text: I. Nessana, no. 104.
The editors suggest that line 1 contains the name Sergios in the vocative case, and that the text may be an invocation of Saint Sergios. The last three lines are within a rectangular frame and may belong to a different text.
Inscription 3:
On a chalk fragment. H. 0.33 m; W. 0.11 m. Letter height 0.01-0.02 m. The stone was removed from the site and deposited in the Palestine Museum in Jerusalem (now the Rockefeller Museum).
The editors publish a drawing with no transcription. In the drawing one can see the beginning of an invocation of a saint, probably Sergios or Stephen (+ ἅγιε C[- - -]), possibly references to donors ([καρποφορ]ούντων, [καρπο]φορουν[- - -]), and the formula 'remember' ([μνήσ]θητι).
Text: I. Nessana, no. 110.
On a chalk block. Graffiti are scratched on two adjacent faces. Dimensions of Face A: 0.16 m x 0.21 m; Face B: 0.19 m x 0.16 m. Letter height c. 0.02 m. The drawing published by the editors shows more letters than the transcription they offer. Below we present transcriptions based on the drawing:
Face A:
Κ(ύρι)ε ὁ θε(ὸς) τοῦ [ἁγίου]
Στεφάνου [- - -]
[- - -]
Τιμοθέ[ου - - -]
||ΡΙΛ
'O Lord, God of [Saint] Stephen [- - -] Timotheos [- - -].'
Face B:
+ CΙ
+ Κ(ύρι)ε ὁ θε[ός - - -]
Α Ω
'+ O Lord, God of [- - -]. Α Ω.'
Text: I. Nessana, no. 109.
Inscription 2:
On a limestone fragment. H. 0.34 m; W. 0.20 m. Letter height 0.02-0.03 m. The Greek texts are accompanied by an Armenian graffito. Found on the east side of the acropolis hill. Original location unknown.
CΕΡ̣Κ̣Κ̣Ρ
σõσον
ΧΤ..ΙC
ο
ἐπαί-
νου
'O Sergios (?) [- - -] save [- - -]. Praise (?)'
Text: I. Nessana, no. 104.
The editors suggest that line 1 contains the name Sergios in the vocative case, and that the text may be an invocation of Saint Sergios. The last three lines are within a rectangular frame and may belong to a different text.
Inscription 3:
On a chalk fragment. H. 0.33 m; W. 0.11 m. Letter height 0.01-0.02 m. The stone was removed from the site and deposited in the Palestine Museum in Jerusalem (now the Rockefeller Museum).
The editors publish a drawing with no transcription. In the drawing one can see the beginning of an invocation of a saint, probably Sergios or Stephen (+ ἅγιε C[- - -]), possibly references to donors ([καρποφορ]ούντων, [καρπο]φορουν[- - -]), and the formula 'remember' ([μνήσ]θητι).
Text: I. Nessana, no. 110.
History
Evidence ID
E04352Saint Name
Stephen, the First Martyr : S00030 Sergios, soldier and martyr of Rusafa : S00023 Saints, name wholly or largely lost : S01744Saint Name in Source
Στέφανος ΣέργιοςRelated Saint Records
Image Caption 1
Inscription 1. From: I. Nessana, 178.Image Caption 2
Inscription 2. From: I. Nessana, 179.Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Graffiti Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elementsLanguage
- Greek