DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45617#0025
Zerzita. Kharab Shekh Berekat. Katura.
153
supporting an architrave, as if for a portico or a trellis. South of these monoliths is
an open space, about 15 yards square, perhaps a court.
The lintel is 1.89 m. long and 49 cm. high. On its face is a dovetail plate in
relief, 79 cm. long and 23 cm. high, having at each end a rosette in relief. The καί
σοί is on the face of the plate, incised in broad lines, the letters 15 cm. high. The rest
is below the plate, incised, in letters 7 cm. high : this part of the inscription is 76 cm.
long. The reading is certain.
KAICOI Καί σοί. To thee also! In the year 284,
€T0YCATTCTTA N ’Ετους $πσζ, Παυ(·<ρ.ου). (month) Panemos. (July, 236 a. d.)
The words καί σοί I take to be an abridged form of the phrase, common on these
lintels: όσα λέγεις, φίλε, καί σοί τά ίιπλα or καί σοί τούτα. See Nos. 1073 and 97° above.
The purpose of the formula was, I believe, to avert the curses of enemies and to invite
the' blessings of friends. See the discussion of this particular phrase in A.A.E.S. hi,
p. 25 and Nos. 10, 114, 116, 186, 235, 262; also Nos. 42 and 89.
1126. House, 407(?) a. d. On the lintel of a house, facing south, in the northern
part of the town. The house-wall is of polygonal masonry. The lintel measures 2.51 m.
by 90 cm. In the center is a semicircle, sunk below the surface, and containing a
disk and in relief below the surface of the semicircle. On each side of the semicircle
is another disk, executed in relief below the main surface.
The first line of the inscription is above the semicircle, and measures 2.29 m. in
length by 7 cm. in height. The letters, incised in rather broad lines, are well cut, but
now badly weathered. The second line is within the semicircle and below the central
disk: it is 1.14 m. long, 5 cm. high. I believe that the reading is certain, with the
exception of the hundreds figure in the date.
eiCeeOCKAIOXPICTOCAVTOVGTOVCGNYHAPT
P Ο Y ΦI N I A N 0 CTTP EC B VTEP 0 C6TTOI H C€ N
One God and his Christ! In the year 455, in the month of March, Rouphinianos,
presbyter, built (this). (March, 407 a. d. ?)
The formula is a very common one, especially in this neighborhood. See Nos. 1049,
1074, 1076, 1077, 1080-1086 inclusive, 1095. The phrase Είς Θεός or Εις Θεός μόνος,
which is doubtless pre-Christian in origin, appears, for example, in Nos. 875 959, 968,
971, 1045, 1070, 1075, 1089, 1090. The Roman names for months are seldom found
in Northern Syria: there are, however, a few examples, such as Nos. 908, 915 etc.
1127. KATURA. Tomb. In the vestibule of a rock-hewn tomb, on the south
side of the wadi which runs east and west through the ancient town. This tomb is
the farthest west of those in the wadi: others, nearer to the town, bear Nos. 1128-1134.
The floor of the vestibule is about ten feet above the level of the road through
the wadi, and before it the rock has been scarped away, leaving a little platform.
The vestibule itself is almost cubical in form, measuring about 7 feet each way: the
front is open, and has an engaged column hewn on the rock at each side. Above
Εις Θεός, καί δ Χρίστος αΰτοΰ. ’Ετους ευυζ,
(μηνός) Μαρτ(ίου), 'Ρουφινίαυός, πρεσβύτερος,
} r
153
supporting an architrave, as if for a portico or a trellis. South of these monoliths is
an open space, about 15 yards square, perhaps a court.
The lintel is 1.89 m. long and 49 cm. high. On its face is a dovetail plate in
relief, 79 cm. long and 23 cm. high, having at each end a rosette in relief. The καί
σοί is on the face of the plate, incised in broad lines, the letters 15 cm. high. The rest
is below the plate, incised, in letters 7 cm. high : this part of the inscription is 76 cm.
long. The reading is certain.
KAICOI Καί σοί. To thee also! In the year 284,
€T0YCATTCTTA N ’Ετους $πσζ, Παυ(·<ρ.ου). (month) Panemos. (July, 236 a. d.)
The words καί σοί I take to be an abridged form of the phrase, common on these
lintels: όσα λέγεις, φίλε, καί σοί τά ίιπλα or καί σοί τούτα. See Nos. 1073 and 97° above.
The purpose of the formula was, I believe, to avert the curses of enemies and to invite
the' blessings of friends. See the discussion of this particular phrase in A.A.E.S. hi,
p. 25 and Nos. 10, 114, 116, 186, 235, 262; also Nos. 42 and 89.
1126. House, 407(?) a. d. On the lintel of a house, facing south, in the northern
part of the town. The house-wall is of polygonal masonry. The lintel measures 2.51 m.
by 90 cm. In the center is a semicircle, sunk below the surface, and containing a
disk and in relief below the surface of the semicircle. On each side of the semicircle
is another disk, executed in relief below the main surface.
The first line of the inscription is above the semicircle, and measures 2.29 m. in
length by 7 cm. in height. The letters, incised in rather broad lines, are well cut, but
now badly weathered. The second line is within the semicircle and below the central
disk: it is 1.14 m. long, 5 cm. high. I believe that the reading is certain, with the
exception of the hundreds figure in the date.
eiCeeOCKAIOXPICTOCAVTOVGTOVCGNYHAPT
P Ο Y ΦI N I A N 0 CTTP EC B VTEP 0 C6TTOI H C€ N
One God and his Christ! In the year 455, in the month of March, Rouphinianos,
presbyter, built (this). (March, 407 a. d. ?)
The formula is a very common one, especially in this neighborhood. See Nos. 1049,
1074, 1076, 1077, 1080-1086 inclusive, 1095. The phrase Είς Θεός or Εις Θεός μόνος,
which is doubtless pre-Christian in origin, appears, for example, in Nos. 875 959, 968,
971, 1045, 1070, 1075, 1089, 1090. The Roman names for months are seldom found
in Northern Syria: there are, however, a few examples, such as Nos. 908, 915 etc.
1127. KATURA. Tomb. In the vestibule of a rock-hewn tomb, on the south
side of the wadi which runs east and west through the ancient town. This tomb is
the farthest west of those in the wadi: others, nearer to the town, bear Nos. 1128-1134.
The floor of the vestibule is about ten feet above the level of the road through
the wadi, and before it the rock has been scarped away, leaving a little platform.
The vestibule itself is almost cubical in form, measuring about 7 feet each way: the
front is open, and has an engaged column hewn on the rock at each side. Above
Εις Θεός, καί δ Χρίστος αΰτοΰ. ’Ετους ευυζ,
(μηνός) Μαρτ(ίου), 'Ρουφινίαυός, πρεσβύτερος,
} r