I, 151; II, pl. 21 (a, b, d); III, phs. 41-43 (c, d) | |
II, 210 | |
161-163 (in Hebrew), 20* (summary) (ed. pr.) | |
357-359 |
SEG 56 (2006): 1897
CIIP I.2 (2012): 786 (dr., phs.)
Findspot: On top of two heart-shaped columns on the east side of the rotunda.
Pres. loc.: Two capitals are in the courtyard of the SBF Museum, two in the courtyard of the Armenian Museum, Jerusalem.
Two capitals of veined white marble were reused as coussinets (stones placed upon the impost of a pier for receiving the first stone of an arch). These were placed above the capitals of two heart-shaped columns that supported the arch leading from the rotunda into the Catholikon (see Corbo 1981, II pls. 4 and 20, nos. 68 and 69). Each face of the two capitals bore a Greek monogram within a round medallion. The monograms were apparently the same on all two capitals, but they were mostly defaced by fire. Monograms (a), (b), (d) were copied by Corbo from the cushion of the northernmost column (northern column of group 68; Corbo, 1981, II pl. 21, dr.), (c) and (d) where photographed from the two southern columns (group 69; Corbo 1981, III phs. 42-43). At the time of Corbo’s excavations, in the 1960s, the two capitals were removed and copies were set up in their places.
Meas.: h 65 cm; Ø medallion 27.5 (outside), 23 cm (inside).
(a) Μαυρικίου
(b) Κωνσταντίνης
(c) Θεοδοσίου
(d) Τιβερίου
Of Mauricius, Constantina, Theodosius, Tiberius.
or Of Mauricius Tiberius, Constantina, Theodosius.
(a) Μακαρίου Bieberstein - Bloedhorn.
Four re-used capitals with monograms on top of two heart-shaped columns from the east side of the rotunda, between 586 and 602.
The columns were part of the restoration carried out by Constantinus Monomachus in the 11 c. The four capitals/cushions were dated by Corbo to the 6 c. in general, by Coüasnon to the Justinian period. However, they can be dated exactly through the monograms. Mauricius married Constantina, Tiberius’ daughter, on his accession to the throne in 582 (see PLRE IIIA 855ff.: Flavius Mauricius Tiberius 4; 337ff.: Constantina). Their first son, Theodosius, was born in 585 (PLRE IIIB 1293f.: Theodosius 13). Therefore, their second son, Tiberius, cannot have been born before 586 (PLRE IIIB, 1326: Tiberius 3). Constantina bore Mauricius nine children (six sons, Theodosius, Tiberius, Petrus, Paulus, Iustinus, Iustinianus, and three daughters, Anastasia, Theoctiste and Cleopatra). Mauricius and his sons were killed by order of the usurper Phocas in November 602; Constantina and her daughters some three years later. Therefore the monogrammed capitals – probably adorning columns donated by the emperor and his family – cannot be earlier than 586 or later than 602. D. Feissel suggested, by letter, that Tiberius in monogram (d) might refer to Mauricius himself: in this case, the addition of Theodosius’ name to those of the imperial couple may date the capitals between 590, when Theodosius became co-emperor, and 602.