Khirbet Makkûs - Church

Church/Monastery name: 
Khirbet Makkûs - Church
Inscription number: 
1
Selected bibliography: 
Gibson, S., Vitto, F. and Di Segni, L., 1998
327-329, no. A, figs. 5A, 6A (drs.) (ed. pr.)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 48 (1998): 1888

CIIP III (2014): 2320 (dr.)

Inscription type: 
building
Location: 

Eastern end of the mosaic pavement of the southern aisle.

Physical description : 

Three surviving lines and partial letters of a fourth line of what was probably a 8–9 line inscription, written inside an octagonal frame. Original inscription lost; reading based on a drawing by an anonymous Australian WWI soldier stationed in Palestine, who discovered the mosaic on 23 January 1918. The copy shows consistently oval letters, but apart from the angular omega, an uncommon variation of this character in the square alphabet, accurate details of the script cannot be provided.

Text: 

Ἐπὶ τοῦ

ὁσιοτάτου κ(αὶ) ἁγ-

ιωτάτου ἡμῶν

[ἐπισκ(όπου) Διον?]Υ̣Σ̣Ι̣Ο̣Υ̣

[ - - - ]

Translation: 

Under our most saintly and holy [bishop Dion]ysius(?) ...

Date: 
early 6th cent., probably 518-536
Summary: 

Building inscription probably commemorating the renovation of the mosaic pavement in the southern aisle.

Contents
Ecclesiastical titles: 
bishop
Epithets of clergy/monks: 
most holy (hagiotatos)
most saintly (hosiotatos)
Personal names: 
Dionysius (?)
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
κ for κ(αί), but unclear if the if κ was followed by a stroke, stigma, etc.