14, no. 2, pl. XX (ph.) (ed. pr.) | |
406-407, no. 109, fig. 143 (ph.) | |
162, no. 237 |
Beyond the northern edge of the mosaic carpet of the entrance hall (Room A), in front of Room K.
The inscription is framed within a tabula ansata, except the last word that is inscribed in the narrow space between the lower frame and the edge of the mosaic carpet of the hall. The script is square. A dotted iota appears in l.2. The text begins and ends with crosses.
☩ Χ(ριστ)ὲ ὁ Θ(εὸ)ς ἡμῶν, σκέπη κ(αὶ) ἀντίλημψις γενοῦ
κύρου Ἰωάννου ἐνδοξ(οτάτου) ἀπὸ ἐπάρχων κ(αὶ) τοῦ
εὐλογιμένου αὐτοῦ οἴκου, εὐχε͂ς τῶν ἁγίων. ☩
Ἀμήν.
O Christ our God, be Thou the protection and succour of lord John, the gloriosissimus honorary prefect, and of his blessed house, through the prayers of the saints. Amen.
L.3 εὐλογ⟨η⟩μένου iotacism; εὐχ(αῖ)ς phonetic spelling.
Mosaic inscription within a tabula ansata beyond the northern edge of the mosaic carpet of the entrance hall (Room A).
John is also mentioned in inscription no. 1, with a similar formula. According to FitzGerald, this small room (about 1.90 sq.m) was a burial monument reserved for John and his family, however, the inscription is not an epitaph and sound no funeral note. Moreover, the creation of the tomb appears to be contemporary to the blocking of the three entrances of the room. If the inscription was set with the rest of the pavement of the main hall, Room K at that time still served as a passage.
The inscription is set in the same mosaic pavement as inscription no. 3, which is dated to 553/4, or more probably 568/9.