Syriac graffito probably invoking *George (soldier and martyr, S00259). Found at Katura in north Syria, near Qalat Semaan, to the northwest of Beroia/Aleppo. Probably late antique.
Evidence ID
E04390
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Graffiti
Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements
ܓܝܘܪܓܐ
ܚܣܝܐ
'O George, the holy one!'
Text: Littman 1934, no. 21.
Translation: E. Littmann.
Non Liturgical ActivityEcclesiastics - abbots
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - abbots
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Source
Scratched on the left-hand door-jamb of the doorway of a tower in the lower town. Dimensions: Line 1: 0.20 m; line 2: 0.25 m. Letter height 0.025 m.First recorded by the Princeton Archaeological Expedition to Syria and published by Enno Littmann in 1934.
Discussion
The editor notes that the spelling of the name George is somewhat unusual. Normally, it appears in inscriptions as ܓܝܘܪܓܝ or ܓܝܘܪܓܝܣ. The epithet following the name could be given to saints, bishops, or important monks. Littmann suggests that in our case it may indicate that the author of the graffito invoked Saint George, the soldier and martyr of Diospolis/Lydda. Another possibility considered by Littmann is that our George is the abbot of the monastery of Aṭmā, a convent located near Deir Semaan, attested in AD 571, as Katura also lies in proximity of Deir Semaan, and that he himself was the author of our graffito. This is, however, rather unconvincing.Bibliography
Edition:Littmann, E., Publications of the Princeton University Archaeological Expeditions to Syria in 1904-5 and 1909, division IV: Semitic Inscriptions, Section B: Syriac Inscriptions (Leiden: Brill, 1934), no. 21.
Images
)
Drawing. From: Littmann 1934, 21.
Record Created By
Paweł Nowakowski
Date of Entry
20/11/2017
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00259 | George, soldier and martyr, and Companions | ܓܝܘܪܓـܐ | Uncertain |
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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, E04390 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E04390