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E04528: Floor-mosaic with a Greek inscription invoking *George (soldier and martyr, S00259). Found at ‘Ein Dab, near Eleutheropolis, in the Judean Hills (Roman province of Palaestina I). Probably second half of the 6th c.

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posted on 2017-12-26, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski
῏ο ἅγιε Γε-
όργι(ε), βοήθ(ει)
Γεόργι(ο)ν τὸ-
ν πρεσβύ-
τερον· ἀμ-
[ή]ν, Κύρ(ιε)

'O Saint George, help Georgios, the presbyter! Amen, O Lord!'

Text: SEG 62, 1663.

History

Evidence ID

E04528

Saint Name

George, soldier and martyr of Diospolis/Lydda : S00259

Saint Name in Source

Γεόργις

Related Saint Records

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.) Archaeological and architectural - Cult buildings (churches, mausolea)

Language

  • Greek

Evidence not before

548

Evidence not after

650

Activity not before

548

Activity not after

650

Place of Evidence - Region

Palestine with Sinai Palestine with Sinai

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Eleutheropolis ‘Ein Dab

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Eleutheropolis Caesarea Maritima Καισάρεια Kaisareia Caesarea Kayseri Turris Stratonis ‘Ein Dab Caesarea Maritima Καισάρεια Kaisareia Caesarea Kayseri Turris Stratonis

Cult activities - Places

Cult building - independent (church)

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy

Source

The inscription is within a medallion set in the floor of the south aisle of a three-aisled basilica. The medallion is framed by a circle, and belongs to a floor-mosaic decorated with geometrical motifs. The ancient ruins of Khirbet ‘Ein Dab have been known to European travellers since the 19th c. The basilica lies in the eastern part of the site. A description of the church was published in 2012 by Yuval Peleg, who also mentions our inscription and gives a transcription by Leah Di Segni.

Discussion

The inscription invokes the help of Saint George for a homonymous presbyter, probably a benefactor who paid for the floor-mosaics in this section of the church. Dating: Yuval Peleg notes that the church must have been built in the mid-6th c. or later, as below the floor-mosaic in the narthex a coin was found, dated AD 548/549. The construction of the church must, therefore, postdate it.

Bibliography

Edition: Peleg, Y., "A Byzantine church at Khirbet ‘Ein Dab", in: N. Carmin, E. Levin, C. Ebert, M. Gugenheim (eds.), Christians and Christianity, vol. 4: Churches and Monasteries in Judea (Judea and Samaria Publications 16, Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority, 2012), 44. Reference works: Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum 62, 1663.

Usage metrics

    Evidence - The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

    Categories

    Keywords

    S00259History

    Licence

    CC0

    Exports

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