Shivta - St. George (North Church)

Inscription number: 
14
Selected bibliography: 
56, no. 59, ph. 49 (ed. pr.)
294, no. 497
147
846, no. 341, fig. 391 (ph.)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 31 (1981): 1437

Inscription type: 
epitaph
Location: 

Findspot: On a tombstone in the baptistry.

Pres. loc.: IAA, neg. no. 89.068.

Physical description : 

The epitaph was cut on a beautifully carved marble slab found broken into two pieces, decorated with a large crux gemmata underneath the inscription: it may be an altar table in secondary use. The text begins and ends with crosses. The spelling is erratic.

Text: 

     ☩ Ἀνεπά⟨η⟩ ὡ ἐν ἁγ(ί)οις

     ἀναπαυούμενος Στέφ(ανος)

     Βοήθου πρεσβ(ύτερος) μενὸς

4   Ὠγδ(ο)νέου αʹ ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος) ιγʹ ἔτους

     φλδʹ. ☩

Translation: 

Came to rest Stephen (son) of Boethos, priest, now resting with the saints, on the 1st of the month Audynaios, indiction 13, year 534.

Commentary: 

The 1st of Audynaios 534 corresponds to 17 December 639, in the 13th indiction.

The father of the deceased was perhaps Boethos son of Stephen who died on 23 April 618 and is commermorated in Inscription no. 13 B.

Given date: 
year
month
day of the month
indiction
Date: 
17 December 639
Summary: 

Dated epitaph of Stephen son of Boethos, on a decorated marble slab found in the baptistry, 17 December 639.

Contents
Actions: 
came to rest
Ecclesiastical titles: 
presbyter
Personal names: 
Boethos, Stephanus
Epithets of saints: 
hagios/hagia
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
diagonal stroke, stigma, ΑΥ (or ΑΙ) in ligature, horizontal stroke for ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος) and numerals