Complete
Linguistic features:
Formulae:
ἐποίησεν
Quotations from literary texts:
Dating:
AD 401
-
AD 600
Language:
Greek
Monumental:
Medium:
mosaic
Visible:
Accessible:
Has figural depiction:
Has iconoclastic damage:
Activities commemorated:
mosaic pavement of the triclinium
Funds:
own property
Price:
Placement:
mosaic floor
People mentioned:
Name:
Beryllus
Patronym:
Status:
religious_authority
Ethnic allegance:
Semitic
Tribal allegane:
none
Family status:
unspecified
Role:
Benefactor
Occupation:
archisynagogos and phrontistes
Age:
Gender:
male
Religion:
Judaism
Religious denomination:
unspecified
Language:
Greek
Description
date: 5-6 c. CE description: Mosaic panel containing six-line Greek inscription, complete, with minor damage in top line. Text is in tabula ansata with a red frame and letters in white background. Description: tabula ansata – 58x143 cm; inscribed area – 55x81 cm. Letters are 5-9.5 cm high. ed. CIIP II 1140 Βηρύλλος ἀρχισ(υνάγωγος) καὶ φροντιστὴς ὑ(ι)ὸς Ἰούτου ἐποί- ησε τὴν ψηφο- θεσίαν τοῦ τρι- κλίνου τῷ ἰδίῳ 'Beryllus the archisynagogos and phrontistes, son of Iu(s)tus, had the mosaic pavement of the triclinium made at his own cost.' commentary: This mosaic was discovered in Avi-Yonah’s 1956 excavations. It is assigned to Stratum 5 and dated to late fifth or early sixth century. Beryllus’ title of archisynagogos may reflect community recognition of his generous benefaction, but since so little is known about the Jewish community in Caesarea at that period, the extent of responsibility entailed in the office is obscure. His second position, phrontistes, certainly involved managing the business of the community, as the Greek word implies. Neither archisynagogos nor phrontistes is exclusively Jewish. A donor’s assertion that he financed construction from his own resources is not unusual but the Greek formula ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων is usually phrased. The name of Iutos is unparalleled, but in light of the irregularity in the formation, pronunciation and spelling of names among Jews in the Roman period, it may be correct. The defective spelling of ὑ(ι)ός in the same line suggest to read it as Ἰοῦ(σ)τος, a Latin name popular among Jews of this period. However, the idea of emending Τ to Δ, making the name Ἰούδα(ς) = Yehudah/Judah, was given as well. The triclinium was possibly built for big gatherings, especially communal meals, an activity attested for ancient synagogues in literary sources. A triclinium is specifically mentioned in the synagogue inscription at Stobi. The synagogue in Ostia had kitchen facilities along with two dining rooms. CIIP II 1140 https://library.brown.edu/iip/viewinscr/caes0079/
Author:
Tomasz Barański
Added by:
Martyna
Created:
2023-03-25 14:12:00
Last update:
2024-01-20 15:12:46
Dimensions: surface: cm
Condition: Mosaic panel containing six-line Greek inscription, complete, with minor damage in top line. Text is in tabula ansata with a red frame and letters in white background. Description: tabula ansata – 58x143 cm; inscribed area – 55x81 cm.
Text: Letter height 5-9.5 cm
Date: 401 CE - 600 CE
5-6 c. CE
Findspot: Unknown
Original location: Palestina Caesarea 32.507222, 34.906944 Synagogue mosaic floor
Current repository: Unknown
Text type: mosaic inscription
Summary:
Inscription on mosaic in Greek script from Caesarea. 401 CE - 600 CE.
Changes history: 2023-03-25 Tomasz Barański Creation; 2024-01-20 Martyna Swierk Last modification; 2024-01-20 Martyna Swierk Preparation of EpiDoc file
Publication details: University of Warsaw; Warsaw;
Available under licence CC-BY 4.0
; @2021Translation
'Beryllus the archisynagogos and phrontistes, son of Iu(s)tus, had the mosaic pavement of the triclinium made at his own cost.'
Commentary
This mosaic was discovered in Avi-Yonah’s 1956 excavations. It is assigned to Stratum 5 and dated to late fifth or early sixth century. Beryllus’ title of archisynagogos may reflect community recognition of his generous benefaction, but since so little is known about the Jewish community in Caesarea at that period, the extent of responsibility entailed in the office is obscure. His second position, phrontistes, certainly involved managing the business of the community, as the Greek word implies. Neither archisynagogos nor phrontistes is exclusively Jewish. A donor’s assertion that he financed construction from his own resources is not unusual but the Greek formula ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων is usually phrased. The name of Iutos is unparalleled, but in light of the irregularity in the formation, pronunciation and spelling of names among Jews in the Roman period, it may be correct. The defective spelling of ὑ(ι)ός in the same line suggest to read it as Ἰοῦ(σ)τος, a Latin name popular among Jews of this period. However, the idea of emending Τ to Δ, making the name Ἰούδα(ς) = Yehudah/Judah, was given as well. The triclinium was possibly built for big gatherings, especially communal meals, an activity attested for ancient synagogues in literary sources. A triclinium is specifically mentioned in the synagogue inscription at Stobi. The synagogue in Ostia had kitchen facilities along with two dining rooms.
Bibliography (edition)
- CIIP II W., Ameling, H., Cotton, W., Eck, B., Isaac, A., Kushnir-Stein, H., Misgav, J., Price, A., Yardeni, 2011, Corpus Inscriptionum Iudaeae/Palaestinae. Volume II: Caesarea and the Middle Coast: 1121-2160, Berlin, Boston, 1140.