Rehovot in-the-Negev - North Church

Inscription number:

Selected bibliography:

Tsafrir, Y., 1988

154-155, no. 1, fig. 25, ill. 229 (ph., dr.) (ed. pr.)

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Epigraphical corpora:

SEG 38 (1998): 1598

Inscription type:

epitaph

Location:

Incised on a limestone floor slab from the northern aisle (L. 513).

Physical description :

Incised limestone floor slab, 59 x 36 cm. The average height of the letters is 6-8 cm. The inscription is preceded by a cross with uniformly wide arms. The proportions of the letters, however, are not equal because the engraver miscalculated the space on the slab. The letters are generally rounded, but in several cases the effort to keep that shape was only partially successful. The word ἐκυμέθη is a phonetic form of ἐκοιμήθη. (Tsafrir)

Text:

☩ Ἐκυμέθη

ὁ τρι(σμακάριος) Ἰακό-

βος ὁ πρ(εσβύτερος), μη(νὶ) Ὑπ-

ερβ(ερεταίου) κδʹ, ἔτ(ους) υκε̣ʹ.

Translation:

Fell asleep Jacob, the thrice-blessed priest, on the 24th of the month Hyperberetaios, the year 425. (Tsafrir)

Commentary:

The final letter is not clear: "We tend to read it as ε, making the date October 11, 530 CE, but any October 11 from 526 to 534 is possible" (Tsafrir).

Given date:

year

month

day of the month

Date:

11 October 530 (?)

Summary:

Dated epitaph of Jacob, incised on a limestone floor slab from the northern aisle, ca. 526-534.

Contents

Ecclesiastical titles:

presbyter

Epithets of clergy/monks:

most blessed (makariotatos, trismakarios)

Personal names:

Iacobus

Epigraphical Abbreviations:

stigmas, horizontal stroke, small eta above mu for μη(νί)