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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Latin inscription commemorating the deposition of relics of the martyrs *Menas (soldier and martyr, buried at Abu Mena, S00073) and *Sebastianus (martyr of Rome, S00400) from a rural site at Henchir Fallous (Proconsularis, central North Africa). Later 6th or 7th century.

Evidence ID

E07510

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions

On one edge of the slab:
Me(n)sa m[arturum]

On the top of the slab:
Ic benerande relyquie beat(orum) mart(y)r(u)m Moen[ae?]
et Sebastiani, d(e)p(o)s(i)t(e) in pace sub die III id(uum)
n[ovem]brium ind(i)ct(ione) III (or: IIII?) per manus b(ea)t(i)s(si)mi
Reb (or d) .... ant[is]titis. Iulian[us presb(yter)?]
et Victor mon(a)c(u)s b[ot]um D(e)o bo[verunt?]


'The table of the martyrs'

'Here [are] venerable relics of the blessed martyrs Menas and Sebastian, deposited in peace on the 3rd day before the Ides of November [11 November], in the 3rd (or 4th?) indiction, by the hand of the most blessed bishop Reb (?).
The presbyter(?) Iulianus and monk Victor made this vow to God'.


Text: Y. Duval 1982, no. 21.
Translation: Stanisław Adamiak.

Activities accompanying Cult

Feasting (eating, drinking, dancing, singing, bathing)

Non Liturgical Activity

Vow

Relics

Unspecified relic
Transfer/presence of relics from distant countries
Transfer, translation and deposition of relics

Source

A marble slab, 75 x 40.5 x 8,5 cm, reconstructed from one large and seventeen smaller fragments found in 1896 in Henchir Fallous. 'Mensa marturym' is written on the edge of the slab, the longer inscription on its upper face. The inscriptions are not in the same hand, and so not necessarily contemporary.

Currently in the Musée du Louvre in Paris (inv. no. 3338).


Discussion

The first inscription identifies this as a table used for oblations near the tombs or relics of saints. The second one commemorates the deposition of relics in Byzantine times (proven by the use of the indiction in the date).

The saints in question are from outside Africa. Menas is the famous Egyptian saint, and 11 November is his usual feast day. The mention of Sebastian, martyr of Rome, is unique evidence of his cult in Africa.


Bibliography

Edition and discussion:
Duval, Y., Loca sanctorum Africae: Le culte des martyrs en Afrique du IVe au VIIe siècle (Rome: École Francaise de Rome, 1982), vol. 1, 44-48, no. 21.

Images



From Y. Duval 1982, no. 21


From Y. Duval 1982, no. 21


From Y. Duval 1982, no. 21




















Record Created By

Stanisław Adamiak

Date of Entry

21/05/2019

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00073Menas, soldier and martyr buried at Abu MenaMoenaUncertain
S00400Sebastianus, martyr of RomeSebastianusCertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Stanisław Adamiak, Cult of Saints, E07510 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E07510