Evidence ID
E07483
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Graffiti
Santas tres,
Maxima
et Donatilla,
Secunda
bona puella.
Stefanus
'Three saints: Maxima, and Donatilla, Secunda, a good girl. Stephen'
Text: Y. Duval 1982, no.15 (after Cagnat and Monceaux).
Translation: Stanisław Adamiak.
Cult Related Objects
Inscription
Source
A large limestone slab, 70 x 75 cm, found in 1889 in the pavement of the great mosque of Testour. The letters are irregular, between 7 and 9,5 cm high.The style of writing suggests a date for the inscription at the end of the 6th or in the 7th century.
Recorded in the Museum of Tunis.
Discussion
It is not clear what function this inscription, with four names of saints in the nominative, served.The inscription follows the Latin account of the martyrdom of the virgins of Thuburbo (E07491) in placing together Maxima and Donatilla, and distinguishing 'the good girl Secunda', who joined them voluntarily.
It is unclear whether the 'Stephanus' in the last line is a reference to Stephen the First Martyr, or, less probably, the name of the donor of the inscription.
Bibliography
Edition:Duval, Y., Loca sanctorum Africae: Le culte des martyrs en Afrique du IVe au VIIe siècle (Rome: École Française de Rome, 1982), vol. 1, 32–34, no. 15.
Images
)
From Y. Duval 1982, no. 15
Record Created By
Stanisław Adamiak
Date of Entry
29/03/2019
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00030 | Stephen, the First Martyr | Stefanus | Uncertain | S01812 | Maxima, Donatilla and Secunda, virgins and martyrs of Thuburbo | Maxima; Secunda; Donatilla | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Stanisław Adamiak, Cult of Saints, E07483 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E07483