Wadi Suweinit; el- Maqtara; el Aleiliyat - FIRMINUS

Church/Monastery name: 
Wadi Suweinit; el- Maqtara; el Aleiliyat - FIRMINUS
Inscription number: 
1
Selected bibliography: 
386-387, fig. 3 (dr.) (ed. pr.)
159-160, fig. 9 (dr.) (in Hebrew)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 34 (1984): 1503; 35 (1985): 1557;  53 (2003): 1868

CIIP IV.1 (2018): 2804 (dr.)

Inscription type: 
acclamation
dipinto
Location: 

One of the caves of the eastern complex of el-ʿAleiliyat identified as the oratory of the laura.

Physical description : 

On the eastern wall of this cave there is a cross with a Greek inscription (a), and a second Greek inscription was found on the western wall (b). Next to the oratory are two niches, at  the right-hand side of the entrance to the larger of which is another cross with a Greek inscription (c). There are other painted crosses, too; all the crosses in this cave belong to two types: one type has gabled arms, the other plain ones. The gabled crosses are older.

Text: 

(a)   Ἰ(ησου)ς Χ(ριστό)ς, νίκα

(b)   Ἰ(ησου)ς Χ(ριστό)ς

(c)   Ἰ(ησου)ς Χ(ριστό)ς [βα]σιλεύη

Translation: 

(a)  Jesus Christ, be victorious!

(b)  Jesus Christ.

(c)  Jesus Christ reigns.

Summary: 

Crosses with Greek Christian acclamations, painted on the eastern wall of one of the caves of the complex.

Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
horizontal stroke over nomina sacra