Copper ring with a labelled depiction of *Paul the Apostle (S00008). Found at Umm er-Rasas/Kastron Mefaa, to the southeast of Madaba (Roman province of Arabia). Probably 7th-8th c.
Evidence ID
E02588
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Inscribed objects
Images and objects - Rings and seals
A copper ring showing a bearded head and a cross to the right of it. The head is labelled:
Παῦλος
'Paul'
Text: Piccirillo 1994, 267, no. 29.
Use of Images
Private ownership of an image
Non Liturgical ActivitySaint as patron - of an individual
Cult Related ObjectsOther
Discussion
The ring was found in one of two tombs under the floor of the south section of the nave of the so-called 'Church of the Courtyard' ('Chiesa del Cortile', see Michel 2001, 394-396, no. 144d) which was built in a courtyard adjacent to the church of bishop Sergios, the so-called 'Church of the Niche', and the church of *Stephen the First Martyr (E02131). The tombs were placed against a barrier dividing our church from the north aisle of the Church of bishop Sergios.The head on the ring is identified as that of Paul the Apostle. It is probable that Paul was venerated in Umm er-Rasas in Church 9 (E02566) which lies in the centre of the so-called 'ecclesiastical complex', to the south of the churches of Stephen and of bishop Sergios.
Based on ceramic finds, the construction of the 'Church of the Courtyard' is dated to a late phase of the existence of this ecclesiastical complex, probably the end of the Umayyad period. The building was abandoned at the end of the 8th or the beginning of the 9th c. It is, however, not clear, when the ring was made.
Bibliography
Edition:Piccirillo, M., "Le iscrizioni di Kastron Mefaa", in: Piccirillo, M., Alliata, E., Umm Al-Rasas (Mayfa'ah), vol. 1: Gli scavi del complesso di Santo Stefano (Jerusalem: Studium Biblicum Franciscum, 1994), 267, no. 29.
Further reading:
Piccirillo, M., "La chiesa di San Paolo a Umm al-Rasas - Kastron Mefaa", Liber Annuus 47 (1997), 390 (mentioned).
For a description of the 'church of the courtyard', see:
Michel, A., Les églises d'époque byzantine et umayyade de Jordanie (provinces d'Arabie et de Palestine), Ve-VIIIe siècle: typologie architecturale et aménagements liturgiques (avec catalogue des monuments; préface de Noël Duval; premessa di Michele Piccirillo) (Bibliothèque de l'Antiquité tardive 2, Turnhout: Brepols, 2001), 394-396, no. 144d.
Piccirillo, M., "La chiesa del Cortile", Liber Annuus 41 (1991), 344-348.
Reference works:
Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum 44, 1404.
Images
)
From: Piccirillo 1994, 267.
)
Plan of the church (in the middle) with two tombs marked on the south side of the nave. From: Michel 2001, 382.
)
One of the tombs. From: Michel 2001, 395.
Record Created By
Paweł Nowakowski
Date of Entry
21/03/2017
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00008 | Paul, the Apostle | Παῦλος | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E02588 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E02588