Complete
Linguistic features:
Formulae:
Quotations from literary texts:
Dating:
AD 275
-
AD 325
Language:
Jewish Palestinian Aramaic
Monumental:
Medium:
mosaic
Visible:
Accessible:
Has figural depiction:
Has iconoclastic damage:
Activities commemorated:
Funds:
own property
Price:
Placement:
Norther corner of the synagogue, Panel 5
People mentioned:
Name:
Samuel
Patronym:
Safra
Status:
unspecified
Ethnic allegance:
Semitic
Tribal allegane:
none
Family status:
unspecified
Role:
Benefactor
Occupation:
scribe
Age:
Gender:
male
Religion:
Judaism
Religious denomination:
unspecified
Language:
Jewish Palestinian Aramaic
Description
date: late third–early fourth century CE = 275-325 CE description: Dedicatory inscription in the norther corner of the synagogue, Panel 5. Only two words are preserved in the Panel 5 that adjoins the black band and the guilloche which border Panel 5 on the south. Further to the south, there is the panel 4 which shows the Tower of Babel. ed. Leibner 2018: 187-188 שמואל ספרה 'Samuel Safra/scribe' commentary: This is also a dedicatory inscription, perhaps in honor of the donor of the panel. Safra can be literally translated as a ‘scribe’ but it could be interpreted here as a personal name that is known from literary sources and epigraphic finds in Na‘aran (https://epi-identity-database.uw.edu.pl/inscription/151) and Dura Europos (Naveh 1978: 127, No. 88). An inscription written on a plaster wall in the synagogue at Reḥov includes a list of donors, and among them one ‘Bar Safra’ (https://epi-identity-database.uw.edu.pl/building/110). Thus we can read this inscription as ‘Samuel son of Safra’ what requires reconstruction of the word for son in the upper line. However, it is more likely that no word is missing, and the text is to be read: ‘Samuel the scribe’ (Leibner 2018: 187-188). Leibner, U., Khirbet Wadi Ḥamam: A Roman-Period Village and Synagogue in the Lower Galilee. The Institue of Archaeology. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2018, p. 187-188.
Author:
Tomasz Barański
Added by:
Martyna
Created:
2023-02-21 13:20:28
Last update:
2024-01-20 09:02:21
Building:
Synagogue
Site:
Khirbet Wadi Hamam
Dimensions: surface: cm
Condition: Dedicatory inscription in the norther corner of the synagogue, Panel 5. Only two words are preserved in the Panel 5 that adjoins the black band and the guilloche which border Panel 5 on the south. Further to the south, there is the panel 4 which shows the Tower of Babel.
Text:
Date: 275 CE - 325 CE
late third–early fourth century CE
Findspot: Unknown
Original location: Palestina Khirbet Wadi Hamam 32.828333, 35.492222 Synagogue Norther corner of the synagogue, Panel 5
Current repository: Unknown
Text type: dedicatory inscription
Summary:
Dedicatory inscription in JPA script from Khirbet Wadi Hamam. 275 CE - 325 CE.
Changes history: 2023-02-21 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
; @2021Commentary
This is also a dedicatory inscription, perhaps in honor of the donor of the panel. Safra can be literally translated as a ‘scribe’ but it could be interpreted here as a personal name that is known from literary sources and epigraphic finds in Na‘aran (https://epi-identity-database.uw.edu.pl/inscription/151) and Dura Europos (Naveh 1978: 127, No. 88). An inscription written on a plaster wall in the synagogue at Reḥov includes a list of donors, and among them one ‘Bar Safra’ (https://epi-identity-database.uw.edu.pl/building/110). Thus we can read this inscription as ‘Samuel son of Safra’ what requires reconstruction of the word for son in the upper line. However, it is more likely that no word is missing, and the text is to be read: ‘Samuel the scribe’ (Leibner 2018: 187-188).
Bibliography (edition)
- U., Leibner, 2018, Khirbet Wadi Ḥamam: A Roman-Period Village and Synagogue in the Lower Galilee, Jerusalem 187–188.