268-270, no. 4 (dr.) (ed. pr.) | |
166-168, no. 4, pl. VIIIb (ph., dr.) | |
595-596, no. 204, figs. 248 A-B (ph., dr.) | |
19, no. 16 |
SEG 40 (1990): 1478
CIIP IV.1 (2018): 2676 (ph., dr.)
In the mosaic pavement of the bema in front of the altar.
Five-line inscription, beginning with a cross, set in a rectangular frame (75 x 185 cm) that overlaps the central motif of the earlier mosaic, left untouched under the altar table. Frame and characters in blue tesserae; rows separating the lines in red. Well-spaced, but crudely shaped characters of mixed square, round, and cursive shapes, including an eta-shaped in line 1. Abbreviations: horizontal stroke (for truncation and over the numeral) and stigma for truncation and καί. Ligature of ΟΥ. Trema on iota of Ἰουστίνου and ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος).
☩ Ἐπὶ τῆς εὐσεβοῦς βασιλείας τοῦ
δεσπότου ἡμῶν Φλ(αουίου) Ἰουστίνου ἐγρά-
φη ἐν μη(νὶ) Νοεμβρίου ιβʹ ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος) δʹ (καὶ) διὰ τοῦ
4 θεοφ(ιλεστάτου) πρεσβ(υτέρου) Ἀββοσούββ(ου) (καὶ) Ἐλισέ[ου]
Σαορας Σελαμ(άνου) (καὶ) Στέφανος (καὶ) Γεωργ(ίου) ἐψ(ηφώθη).
Under the pious reign of our lord Flavius Iustinus (this inscription) was written, in the month of November, 12, of the 4th indicition, and the mosaic was made thanks to the God-loving priest Abbosoubbos and to Eliseos (son of) Saoras (son of) Salamanes, and to Stephen and to George.
L.5 or Γεώργ(ιος), if it was undeclined like Στέφανος.
Dated building inscription from the reign of Justin II, in the mosaic pavement of the bema in front of the altar, 12 November 571.
Considering the paleography of the inscription, the emperor must be Justin II. The fourth year of the indictional cycle fell only once in his reign (570/1) yielding the date November 12, 571. Abbosoubbos is an Arabic name that appears in a few variations in Greek. Eliseos, Saoras, and Selamanes are Semitic names.