Bir al Hamam - Chapel

Church/Monastery name: 
Bir al Hamam - Chapel
Inscription number: 
2
Selected bibliography: 
201-202, fig. 9b (ph.) (ed. pr.)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Inscription type: 
dedicatory
Location: 

In mosaic pavement in the "refectory" of the chapel.

Illustrative material: 
Physical description : 

Fragmentary three-line mosaic inscription written in red tesserae, 8-10 mm high, on a white background within tabula ansata.

Text: 

Tentative restoration:

     [Ὑπὲρ εὐχῆς (?) κα]ὶ σωτηρίας

     [τῶν φιλοχρ]ίστων καὶ

     [εὐσεβῶ]ν
(?) ἀρμιγέρων.

Translation: 

[For the prayer] and salvation of the Christ-loving and [pious] armigers.

Commentary: 

Latin armiger, Greek ἀρμίγερος, used once by John Lydus (De magistratibus populo Romani) in a list of various types of military functions.

Summary: 

Fragmentary dedicatory mosaic inscription of armigers within a tabula ansata, in the "refectory" of the chapel.

Contents
Titles/epithets of patrons/dedicators: 
pious (eusebes)
Christ loving
Professions: 
armiger
Epigraphical formulae: 
prayer (euchê)
salvation/preservation (sôtêria)