Evidence ID
E02614
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)
Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements
Inscription 1: on the east side of the tower.
Γαβ- + ριήλ
'Gab- + riel'
Inscription 2: on the south side of the tower.
Ραφ- + αήλ
'Raph- + ael'
Inscription 3: on the west side of the tower.
Μιχ- + αήλ
'Mich- + ael'
Inscription 4: on the north side of the tower.
Οὐρ- + ιήλ
'Our- + iel'
Text: I. Jordanie 5/1, nos. 105-108.
Cult PlacesSaint as patron - of a community
Cult building - monastic
Non Liturgical ActivitySaint as patron - of a community
Magic
Source
The inscriptions are carved on T-shaped stones set in balconies projecting from four walls of a tower of a building in the south sector of Umm al-Jimāl, facing the four cardinal directions, c. 8 m above the ground. H. c. 0.50 m; W. c. 0.70 m. The building was reportedly termed 'barracks' by the locals and Littmann suggested that it was originally the fort of the city ('castellum'), later converted to a monastery (this is the same building from which comes the block discussed under E02600).Inscriptions 1 and 4 were first seen by William Waddington and published by him in 1870. Inscription 4 was republished by Gottlieb Schumacher in 1897 with his own independent drawing. All four stones were then seen during the Princeton Archaeological Expedition to Syria by Enno Littmann and published by him with drawings in 1921. The most recent edition is that by Nabil Bader (2009). During his visit to Umm al-Jimāl, he noted that the balconies with Inscription 1 and 2 had collapsed and that the stones are now lost. Bader saw Inscription 3 and 4 (which he photographed). In his edition he also used an unpublished copy of Inscription 2 by Jean Marcillet-Jaubert.
Discussion
The inscriptions mention the names of the four Archangels. As they were carved on four sides of a tower facing the four cardinal directions, Littmann suggested that they echo the descriptions of the Four Archangels surrounding the throne of God, present in Hebrew apocalyptic writings. The throne of God, says Littmann, is always there described as facing east, with Michael facing south, Ouriel north, Gabriel east, and Raphael west. Only Gabriel and Ouriel on our tower face the same directions.The names of the Archangels were presumably carved onto the tower to protect it.
Waddington, who saw only two inscriptions, supposed that the names of the other Archangels were omitted.
Bibliography
Edition:Bader, N. (ed.), Inscriptions grecques et latines de la Syrie, vol. 21: Inscriptions de la Jordanie, part 5: La Jordanie du Nord-Est, fasc. 1(Beirut: Institut français du Proche-Orient, 2009), nos. 105-108.
Littmann, E., Magie, D., Stuart, D.R., (eds.), Publications of the Princeton University Archaeological Expeditions to Syria in 1904-5 and 1909, Division III: Greek and Latin Inscriptions, Section A: Southern Syria (Leiden: Brill, 1921), 143-145, nos. 245-248.
Schumacher, G., "Das südliche Basan", Zeitschrift des deutschen Palästina-Vereins 20 (1897), 160 (Inscription 4).
Waddington, W.H., Inscriptions grecques et latines de la Syrie (Paris: Firmin Didot Frères, Libraires-Éditeurs, 1870), nos. 2068Aa and Ca (Inscription 1 and 4).
Further reading:
Piccirillo, M., Chiese e mosaici di Madaba (Jerusalem: Franciscan Printing Press, 1989), 58-59.
Images
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Inscription 1. From: I. Jordanie 5/1, 91.
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Inscription 2. From: I. Jordanie 5/1, 91.
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Inscription 3. From: I. Jordanie 5/1, 92.
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Inscription 4 (photograph by Bader). From: I. Jordanie 5/1, 92.
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Inscription 4 (drawing by Littmann). From: Littmann 1921, 145.
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Inscription 4 (drawing by Schumacher). From: Schumacher 1897, 160.
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Drawing of the fort/monastery with the tower. From: Schumacher 1897, 160.
Record Created By
Paweł Nowakowski
Date of Entry
27/03/2017
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00181 | Michael, the Archangel | Μιχαήλ | Certain | S00192 | Gabriel, the Archangel | Γαβριήλ | Certain | S00481 | Raphael, the Archangel | Ῥαφαήλ | Certain | S00770 | Ouriel, the Archangel | Οὐριήλ | Certain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E02614 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E02614