243-244, no. 3, pl. 70.3 (ph.) (in Hebrew) (ed. pr.) | |
250-251, fig. 23 | |
69, no. 2 | |
497-498, no. 147, fig. 190 (ph.) | |
22, no. 18 |
SEG 37 (1987): 1472 C
CIIP III (2014): 2327 c (ph.)
On the eastern border of the western pavement, alined with the axis of the eastern room.
Pres. loc.: In situ.
The western room was paved with a geometric mosaic carpet of fine quality, with motives of crosses, bordered by a triple frame. The inscription is set within a rectangle 98 cm wide, east of the external border of the carpet. The right side of the inscription has disappeared, so its total length cannot be determined. The characters are traced with black and red tesserae in alternate lines; the letters are 8 cm high in the 2nd, 4th and 5th line (black), only 7 cm high in the 1st and 3rd line (red). No abbreviations signs are used and the numerals are unmarked.
Τῷ οἴκῳ σου [πρέπει]
ἁγίασμα Κ[(ύρι)ε εἰς μα-]
κρότητα ἡμ[ερῶν.]
4 Ἐν ἔτ(ε)ι ζϙφʹ μη(νὸς) - - - α´
ἐκτίσθη καὶ ἐψηφώθη.
"Holiness befits Thy house, O Lord, for evermore" (Ps. 93:5). In the year 597, on the 1st of the month of ..., (this) was built and paved with mosaic.
Dated mosaic building inscription with Psalm quotation set within a rectangle, on the eastern border of the western pavement. 493/4 CE.
Year 597 of the Ascalonian era corresponds to AD 493/4; the New Year fell in late autumn; therefore it is very unlikely that the Α at the end of l.4 might refer to the indiction, as was suggested by Tzaferis. The first indiction fell in 492/3, ending on 31 August, at least two months before the beginning of AU 597.