54-55 (ph.) (in Hebrew) | |
172 (ph.) | |
349-351, figs. 2-3 (phs., drs.) (Tzaferis) (ed. pr.) | |
247, no. 9, fig. 35.10 (phs.) (in Hebrew) | |
340, fig. 1 (drs.) (in Hebrew) | |
558, no. 524 (Feissel) |
SEG 52 (2002): 1669; 53 (2003): 1829
Findspot: At the corner of Structure G, dated to layer IIIA (Locus 318).
Pres. loc.: IAA, Inv. no. 99-3155
Bronze oil lamp found together with its stand. "The lamp, with a discus shoulder, has a round body with two elongated nozzles attached to it. Two simple chain suspension hooks are attached to the body of the lamp between the discus and nozzles.The discus is decorated with two sets of fine engraved circles, one around the eye, and the second at the other end of the discus. The ring base has a projection at its centre where the container was attached to its stand. The stand is in the shape of a twisted rod with three legs decorated with incised patterns of squares and herring-bone. [...] At a later date, a dedicatory inscription in Greek was engraved on the side of the lamp." (Avshalom-Gorni–Tacher–Tzaferis)
Ἁγίῳ Σάβᾳ Χα-
λείπας ἀνέθηκε
Χ̣ϛ̣
To Saint Sabas, Chaleipas dedicated (this).
Ll.1-2 Χα|λείπας Tzaferis, possible Χα|λαπας with an open cursive A, Di Segni (apud SEG); l.3 ΧΖ Tzaferis 2001, Χϛ Tzaferis 2002, ΑΓ Di Segni (apud SEG).
Bronze oil lamp engraved with dedicatory inscription of Chaleipas to Saint Sabas.
Tzaferis interpreted the two letters of l.3 as χ(ρόνοις) followed by either a zeta or a stigma, and suggested this may be a date according to an unknown local chronological system. Feissel wondered whether the numeral comprised both letters, giving year 606 (era of Tyre) = 480/481 AD. If the letters are actually chi and stigma, they might refer to a 6th indiction: χ(ρόνοις) ςʹ (ἰνδικτιῶνος); however, autopsy (L. Di Segni) suggests that the letters may be alpha and gamma: perhaps an aborted acclamation ἅγιε, "saint!".