Complete
Linguistic features:
Formulae:
εἷς θεὸς μόνος
Quotations from literary texts:
Dating:
AD 350
-
AD 529
Language:
Greek; Samaritan Aramaic
Monumental:
Medium:
mosaic
Visible:
Accessible:
Has figural depiction:
Has iconoclastic damage:
Activities commemorated:
donation to the synagogue
Funds:
Price:
Placement:
the centre of the hall
People mentioned:
Name:
Gadiona
Patronym:
Status:
unspecified
Ethnic allegance:
Semitic
Tribal allegane:
none
Family status:
unspecified
Role:
Benefactor
Occupation:
unspecified
Age:
Gender:
male
Religion:
Judaism
Religious denomination:
Samaritan
Language:
Greek
Name:
Iulianus
Patronym:
Status:
unspecified
Ethnic allegance:
Semitic
Tribal allegane:
none
Family status:
unspecified
Role:
Benefactor
Occupation:
unspecified
Age:
Gender:
male
Religion:
Judaism
Religious denomination:
Samaritan
Language:
Greek
Description
date: 350-529 CE description: Bilingual Greek and Samaritan Aramaic mosaic inscription located in the centre of the hall. The reconstructs size of a double-framed mosaic panel is ca. 130x140 cm. The Greek text (6 lines) was made of red tesserae while the Samaritan Aramaic letters (1 line) were black. On the white background is a uilloche in black, red and white tesserae was encircled by a round medallion. ed. Tal 2020 Εἶς θεὸ[ς μόνο-] ς ὁ βοηθ[ῶν] Γαδιωναν κ(αὶ) Ἰουλιανῷ κ(αὶ) πᾶσιν τοῖς ἀξ- ίοις פעלהבדה Greek: “One only god who helps Gadiona and Iulianus and all who deserve it Smaritan: (made it from his) possession in this place”. commentary: The name Gadiona is most probably the Greek transcription of the Semitic name *gdywnʾ. It was used among Jews despite its theophoric connotation to Baʿal Gad. Iulianos as a common Latin name was used by Christians, Jews and pagans as well. The Greek and Aramaic texts interact with each other here. The lack of a verb (that of the benefactors' deeds which is predicted), should not be striking as it was obvious to those who read the inscription while the building in which it was placed was still in use. Moreover, the text is aligned on the west-east axis so that the reader would face Mount Gerizm that supports the interpretation of the building as a Samaritan synagogue. Oren Tal agues the Εἶς θεὸς μόνος formula in Palestine has an exclusive Samaritan provenance despite the Εἶς θεὸς form was commonly used also by others, including not even proper monotheists (Di Segni 1994). Di Segni, Leah, 1994, Εἶς θεὸς in Palestinian Inscriptions, Scripta Classica Israelica 13: 94–115. Tal, Oren. 2020. "A Samaritan Synagogue of the Byzantine Period at Apollonia-Arsuf/Sozousa?" Religions 11, no. 3: 127. Tal, Oren. 2015. A Bilingual Greek-Samaritan Inscription from Apollonia-Arsuf/Sozousa: Yet More Evidence of the Use of εἷς θεὸς μόνος Formula Inscriptions among the Samaritans. ZPE 194: 169–75 https://search.inscriptionsisraelpalestine.org/viewinscr/apol0002/
Author:
Tomasz Barański
Added by:
Martyna
Created:
2023-08-19 17:14:53
Last update:
2024-01-26 11:02:54
Building:
Synagogue
Dimensions: surface: cm
Condition: Bilingual Greek and Samaritan Aramaic mosaic inscription located in the centre of the hall. The reconstructs size of a double-framed mosaic panel is ca. 130x140 cm. The Greek text (6 lines) was made of red tesserae while the Samaritan Aramaic letters (1 line) were black. On the white background is a uilloche in black, red and white tesserae was encircled by a round medallion.
Text:
Date: 350 CE - 529 CE
Findspot: Unknown
Original location: Palestina Apollonia (Arsuf; Sozousa) 32.195278, 34.806667 Synagogue the centre of the hall
Current repository: Unknown
Text type: mosaic inscription
Summary:
Bilingual Greek and Samaritan Aramaic mosaic inscription from Apollonia (Arsuf; Sozousa). 350 CE - 529 CE.
Changes history: 2023-08-19 Tomasz Barański Creation; 2024-01-26 Martyna Swierk Last modification; 2024-01-26 Martyna Swierk Preparation of EpiDoc file
Publication details: University of Warsaw; Warsaw;
Available under licence CC-BY 4.0
; @2021Translation
Greek: “One only god who helps Gadiona and Iulianus and all who deserve it Smaritan: (made it from his) possession in this place”.
Commentary
The name Gadiona is most probably the Greek transcription of the Semitic name *gdywnʾ. It was used among Jews despite its theophoric connotation to Baʿal Gad. Iulianos as a common Latin name was used by Christians, Jews and pagans as well. The Greek and Aramaic texts interact with each other here. The lack of a verb (that of the benefactors' deeds which is predicted), should not be striking as it was obvious to those who read the inscription while the building in which it was placed was still in use. Moreover, the text is aligned on the west-east axis so that the reader would face Mount Gerizm that supports the interpretation of the building as a Samaritan synagogue. Oren Tal agues the Εἶς θεὸς μόνος formula in Palestine has an exclusive Samaritan provenance despite the Εἶς θεὸς form was commonly used also by others, including not even proper monotheists (Di Segni 1994).
Bibliography (edition)
- O., Tal, 2020, A Samaritan Synagogue of the Byzantine Period at Apollonia-Arsuf/Sozousa?, Religions 11 no.3, 127.
Bibliography
- L., Di Segni, 1994, A Εἶς θεὸς in Palestinian Inscriptions,, Scripta Classica Israelica 13, 94-115. O., Tal, 2015, A Bilingual Greek-Samaritan Inscription from Apollonia-Arsuf/Sozousa: Yet More Evidence of the Use of εἷς θεὸς μόνος Formula Inscriptions among the Samaritans, ZPE 149, 169-175.