239 (ed. pr.) | |
10, no. 16 | |
176-177, no. 157B | |
II, 237 |
CIIP I.2 (2012): 814
In an annex at the northwestern end of the Eudocian basilica of St. Stephen, on the western edge of the mosaic pavement. (See plans: Lagrange, Saint Étienne 131; Vincent - Abel, Jérusalem nouvelle 2 pl. 76). The mosaic is still extant but the inscription has disappeared.
Mosaic pavement with a simple geometric pattern. The mosaic is 6 m wide. Along the western edge, within the border, was an unframed inscription consisting of one line, of which only the last six letters are preserved. The letters were traced in black tesserae. Lunate sigma.
[Εἰρήνῃ ἡ εἴσοδός σου καὶ ἡ ἔξοδ]ός σου (?)
May you come and go in peace (?).
[--] θεοῦ [--] Merrill, Thomsen, Bieberstein - Bloedhorn; [--]ος σου Avi-Yonah.
Small fragment of a lost mosaic inscription with a simple geometric pattern.
Given the location of the inscription and its probable length (the whole width of the carpet), the restoration suggested above seems likely. For this formula, usually at the entrance of a sacred building, see SEG 37, 1499 (Kh. es-Samra near the Sea of Galilee), 1515 (Evron in Western Galilee); Ovadiah, MPI no. 28 (Tel Basul near Beth She'an; CIIP II 1338, 1344f). According to Vincent the mosaics of the church are all of the same time and style, thus dating the inscription to ca. 460.