Complete
Linguistic features:
Formulae:
Quotations from literary texts:
Dating:
AD 501
-
AD 800
Language:
Syriac
Monumental:
Medium:
plaster
Visible:
Accessible:
Has figural depiction:
Has iconoclastic damage:
Activities commemorated:
Funds:
Price:
Placement:
the rubble of the crypt (623)
People mentioned:
Description
date: 6th -8th century CE description: Fragments of plaster with painted inscription, founded in the rubble of the crypt (623) in August 1974. commentary: Many fragments of plaster inscription(s) were found in the crypt but it was not its original place. It can be assumed that the inscriptions once stood above the grave on the south wall and/or on the east wall of the crypt, from where they crumbled over time. There were 45 pieces of inscribed plaster found: 36 in black and 9 in red colour. The text was executed in Estrangela script. Interestingly, five letters carry diacritics and one a Nestorian vowel sign. The letters are partially preserved only in fragments, but possibly they can be supplemented in some cases. However, we are not dealing here with the fragments of a single inscription. According to the size, shape and colour of the letters, ten different inscriptions can be distinguished. The different forms of individual letters also indicate different scribes, and it is quite possible that the respective inscriptions also come from different times. Unfortunately, the fragments can no longer be put together because the fracture lines do not match. Thus, only very meagre remnants of the individual inscriptions have survived, unfortunately far too little to give us precise information about the content of the texts. The editor tentatively divided them into 10 texts but it is not certain at all. Most probably, the inscriptions were not placed above the grave, but they were rather all in one place on the southern wall, perhaps in the form of a commemorative plaque. More see: Maiberger 1983: 170-179. Maiberger P. 1983, Die syrischen Inschriften als Quelle zur Geschichte der Nestorianer in Palästina (in) Fritz V., Kempinski A., Ergebnisse Der Ausgrabungen Auf Der Hirbet El-Msas (Tel Masos) 1972-1975: Teil I, p. 158-185. Fritz V., Kempinski A. 1983, Ergebnisse Der Ausgrabungen Auf Der Hirbet El-Msas (Tel Masos) 1972-1975: Teil I: Textband. Teil II: Tafelband. Teil III: Plane. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Author:
Tomasz Barański
Added by:
Martyna
Created:
2023-07-26 18:34:28
Last update:
2024-01-25 19:17:33
Building:
Nestorian(?) monastery
Dimensions: surface: cm
Condition: Fragments of plaster with painted inscription, founded in the rubble of the crypt (623) in August 1974.
Text:
Date: 501 CE - 800 CE
6th -8th century CE
Findspot: Unknown
Original location: Palestina Tel Masos (Khirbet al-Msas; Hirbet el-Mšaš) 31.1247, 34.5800 Nestorian(?) monastery the rubble of the crypt (623)
Current repository: Unknown
Text type: painted inscription
Summary:
Painted inscription in Syriac script from Tel Masos (Khirbet al-Msas; Hirbet el-Mšaš). 501 CE - 800 CE.
Changes history: 2023-07-26 Tomasz Barański Creation; 2024-01-25 Martyna Swierk Last modification; 2024-01-25 Martyna Swierk Preparation of EpiDoc file
Publication details: University of Warsaw; Warsaw;
Available under licence CC-BY 4.0
; @2021Translation
Commentary
Many fragments of plaster inscription(s) were found in the crypt but it was not its original place. It can be assumed that the inscriptions once stood above the grave on the south wall and/or on the east wall of the crypt, from where they crumbled over time. There were 45 pieces of inscribed plaster found: 36 in black and 9 in red colour. The text was executed in Estrangela script. Interestingly, five letters carry diacritics and one a Nestorian vowel sign. The letters are partially preserved only in fragments, but possibly they can be supplemented in some cases. However, we are not dealing here with the fragments of a single inscription. According to the size, shape and colour of the letters, ten different inscriptions can be distinguished. The different forms of individual letters also indicate different scribes, and it is quite possible that the respective inscriptions also come from different times. Unfortunately, the fragments can no longer be put together because the fracture lines do not match. Thus, only very meagre remnants of the individual inscriptions have survived, unfortunately far too little to give us precise information about the content of the texts. The editor tentatively divided them into 10 texts but it is not certain at all. Most probably, the inscriptions were not placed above the grave, but they were rather all in one place on the southern wall, perhaps in the form of a commemorative plaque. More see: Maiberger 1983: 170-179.
Bibliography (edition)
- P., Maiberger, 1983, Die syrischen Inschriften als Quelle zur Geschichte der Nestorianer in Palästina, [in:] Fritz V., Kempinski A. Ergebnisse Der Ausgrabungen Auf Der Hirbet El-Msas (Tel Masos) 1972-1975: Teil I, Wiesbaden, 170–179.
Bibliography
- V., Fritz, A., Kempinski, 1983, Ergebnisse Der Ausgrabungen Auf Der Hirbet El-Msas (Tel Masos) 1972-1975: Teil I: Textband. Teil II: Tafelband. Teil III: Plane, Wiesbaden.