Jabaliyah; el-Mkheitim - Church

Church/Monastery name: 
Jabaliyah; el-Mkheitim - Church
Inscription number: 
16
Selected bibliography: 
407, no. 17, pl. VIII.b (ph.) (ed. pr.)
65, no. 81
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 50 (2000): 1495

CIIP III (2014): 2458 (dr.)

Inscription type: 
dedicatory
Location: 

In the mosaic pavement at the eastern end of the northern aisle of the basilica (Locus 5). 

Physical description : 

Six-line mosaic inscription within a round medallion set in a square; the letters are mostly formed by black tesserae. The inscription ends with a palm branch, and below the last line there is an ornament (cross?). Erratic spelling: "la réfection du panneau par un mosaïste illettré l’a rendu particulièrement difficile à interpréter" (Saliou).

Meas.: letters 10 cm.

Text: 

       Ὑπερὲ σωτ-

       τ(αι)ρίας. Βίκτωρ

       Σαλαηανου κ(αὶ)

4     Σαλαμθα ΓΥΚΟ

       εἰπὶ Σαλανος δι-

       ακόμου.
(palm)

       (cross?)

Translation: 

On behalf of the salvation, Victor (son) of Salaeanus, and Salamtha GYKO, in the times of Salan, deacon. (CIIP)

Apparatus: 

L.1. Ὑπέρε for ὑπὲρ.   ll.1-2. σωτταιρίας for σωτηρίας.   l.3. ΣΑΛΑΗΑΝΟΥ, mosaic (which would yield the previously unattested name Σαλαηανος); probably an error for Σαλαμάνου, ed.pr., who points out that the initial letter (probably sigma) was possibly renewed during a restoration.   l.4. Σαλαμθα: previously unattested name (cf. Σαλαφθα); ΓΥΚΟ: perhaps an abbreviation of γυ(ναι)κό(ς) (on the assumption that Βίκτωρ is treated as indeclensible and represents a genitive), ed.pr.   l.5. Σαλανος: possibly an error for Σαλαονος (cf. SEG 50 1492 ll. 2-3), ed.pr.   ll.5-6. διακόμου for διακόνου.

Summary: 

Dedicatory mosaic inscription of Victor and Salamtha within a medallion, at the eastern end of the northern aisle of the basilica.

Contents
Ecclesiastical titles: 
deacon
Personal names: 
Salaeanus, Salamtha, Salan, Victor
Kinship terms: 
spouse
Epigraphical formulae: 
salvation/preservation (sôtêria)
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
stigma (?) for ΑΙ, diagonal stroke for κ(αί)