Scythopolis/Beth Shean - KYRA MARIA

Church/Monastery name: 
Scythopolis/Beth Shean - KYRA MARIA
Inscription number: 
1
Selected bibliography: 
13-14, no. 1, pl. XX (ph.) (ed. pr.)
401-402, no. 106, fig. 140 (ph.)
161-162, no. 237, fig. 31 (ph.)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 45 (1995): 1980

Inscription type: 
commemorative
dedicatory
Location: 

In the mosaic pavement of the entrance hall (Room A), in front of the main entrance.

Physical description : 

The inscription in front of the main entrance is framed in a tabula ansata oriented to the north. The text begins and ends with crosses.

Text: 

      ☩ Πρ(οσφορὰ) ὑπὲρ [μν]ήμης κ(αὶ) τελ(ε)ίας

      
ἐν Χ(ριστ)ῷ ἀναπαύσεως Ζωσίμου

      
ἰλλουστρίου κ(αὶ) σωτηρίας

4    κ(αὶ) ἀντιλήμψεως Ἰωάννου


      ἐνδοξ(οτάτου) ἀπὸ ἐπάρχων κ(αὶ) Πέτρου

      κ(αὶ) Ἀναστασίου φιλοχρίστων

      κομίτων κ(αὶ) παντὸς τοῦ εὐλογιμέν(ου)

8    αὐτῶν οἴκου εὐχ[αῖς τῶν ἁγί]ων· Ἀμήν. 

Translation: 

Offering for the memory and perfect rest in Christ of the illustris Zosimus, and the preservation and succour of John, the gloriosissimus honorary prefect, and of Peter and Anastasius, Christ-loving comites, and of all their blessed house, through the prayers of the saints. Amen.

Commentary: 

Zosimus must have held senatorial rank to enjoy the title of illustris. His relative, John, held the highest rank, gloriosissimus; he is styled ἀπὸ ἐπάρχων, ex praefectis, probably a honorary praefectus praetorio rather than a former effective prefect.

The inscription is set in the same mosaic pavement as inscription no. 3, which is dated to 553/4, or more probably 568/9.

Date: 
553/4 or rather 568/9
Summary: 

Commemorative and dedicatory inscription in a tabula ansata, in front of the main entrance (Room A).

Contents
Titles/epithets of patrons/dedicators: 
Christ loving
Personal names: 
Anastasius, Ioannes, Petrus, Zosimus
Professions: 
comes, praefectus praetorio
Kinship terms: 
kin (oikos, diaferontes)
Epigraphical formulae: 
prayer (euchê)
remembrance (mnêmê)
repose (anapausis, koimêsis)
succour (antilêpsis, boêqeia)
salvation/preservation (sôtêria)
offering (prosphorá/karpophoria)
amen
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
small twisted mark for κ(αί), horizontal stroke over nomen sacrum, ligature of ΟΥ, monogramme of Π and Ρ for πρ(οσφορά)