Shivta - St. George (North Church)

Inscription number: 
13
Selected bibliography: 
56-58, nos. 60-61, ph. 50, fig. 10 (ed. pr.)
30, no. 22 (dr.)
291, no. 487 (a); 287, no. 471 (b)
844-846, no. 340 A-B, figs. 390 A-B (ph., dr.)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 31 (1981): 1438-1439

Inscription type: 
epitaph
Location: 

Findspot: On tombstone in the baptistry.

Pres. loc.: IAA, Inv. no. 36.1271, neg. no. 19.759.

Physical description : 

Two epitaphs were carefully engraved on a rectangular tombstone, the one immediately following the other without any gap, and seemingly executed by the same hand. The characters and abbreviations are identical. Both texts begin with crosses. The letters are traced between fine parallel grooves incised across the stone surface. The upper inscription is dated in 524, the second 513 in the same era. Clearly the two epitaphs were engraved at the same time, namely, when the second dead was interred: perhaps in opening the grave, the slab the covered it broke and the tombstone had to be replaced.

Text: 

(a)   ☩ Κατετέθη ἐν Χριστῷ

       ὁ ἐν ἁγίοις ἀναπαυόμε-

       νος ὁ τρισμακάριος

4     Ἀρσένιος Ἀβρααμίου

       μοναχὸς καὶ πρεσβ(ύτερος)

       ἐν μη(νὶ) Αὐγδωναίῳ ιθʹ

       ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος) γʹ ἔτους φκδʹ.

8     Ὁ Κύριος τῆς δόξης

       αὐτὸν ἀναπαύσ(ε)ι. Ἀμήν.


 

(b)   ☩ Ἐνθάδε κατετέθη Βό-

       ηθος Στεφάνου πρεσβ(ύτερος)

12   ἐν μη(νὶ) Ἀρτεμεσίου γʹ ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος) ςʹ

       ἔτους φιγʹ. Χ(ριστ)έ, ἀνάπαυσ(ον).

Translation: 

(a) Was laid to rest in Christ the thrice-blessed Arsenius (son) of Abraham, monk and priest, now resting with the saints, in the month of Audynaios, the 19th, in the 3rd indiction, year 524. The Lord of glory will give him rest.

(b) Here was laid to rest Boethos (son) of Stephen, priest, in the month of Artemisios, the 3rd, in the 6th indiction, year 513. Christ, give (him) rest.

Commentary: 

19 Audynaios 524 corresponds to 4 January 630, which fell in the 3rd indiction, and 3 Artemisios 513 to 23 April 618, in the 6th indiction.

Given date: 
year
month
day of the month
indiction
Date: 
1 January 630, and 23 April 618
Summary: 

Two dated epitaphs of Arsenius son of Abraham and Boethos son of Stephen, on a rectangular tombstone found in the baptistry, 1 January 630, and 23 April 618.

Contents
Actions: 
was laid to rest
Ecclesiastical titles: 
presbyter
Monastical titles: 
monachos/monazon
Titles/epithets of patrons/dedicators: 
thrice-blessed (trismakarios)
Personal names: 
Abraham, Arsenius, Boethos, Stephanus
Epithets of saints: 
hagios/hagia
Epigraphical formulae: 
Lord/Christ, grant repose...
amen