Mosaic inscription in Latin perhaps honouring *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411). Found in the baptistery of Kelibia (Byzacena, central North Africa). Second half of the 6th c.
Evidence ID
E07535
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)
Archaeological and architectural - Internal cult fixtures (crypts, ciboria, etc.)
S(an)c(t)o beatissimo Cypriano episcopo antiste
cum s(an)c(t)o Adelfio presbitero huiusce unitatis
Aquinius et Iuliana eius cum Villa et Deogratias prolibus
tesellu(m) aequori perenni posuerunt
'Under the holy [and] most blessed Cyprian, bishop and pontiff, with the holy Adelfius, presbyter of this unity, Aquinius and his Iuliana with [their] children Villa and Deogratias constructed this mosaic for the eternal water.'
Text: Y. Duval 1982, no. 25.
Translation: S. Adamiak.
Cult Related Objects
Inscription
Source
The inscription runs round the edge of the baptismal font found in the church of the deacon Felix in Kelibia, datable to the second half of the sixth century. The letters are of 6 to 7 cm in height.Currently in the Bardo Museum in Tunis.
Discussion
It is just possible that this inscription honours Cyprian, the famous bishop and martyr of the third century, but it is more likely that it records an otherwise unknown Cyprianus, bishop at Kelibia at the time that the baptistery was built - we should note that both Cyprianus and the presbyter Adelfius are designated as 'holy' in the inscription.The 'unity' mentioned here is a description of the Catholic Church, a term popular in Africa for marking it out from other groups, especially the Donatists.
Bibliography
Editions:Duval, Y., Loca sanctorum Africae: Le culte des martyrs en Afrique du IVe au VIIe siècle (Rome: École Française de Rome, 1982), vol. 1, 54-58, no. 25.
Epigraphik Datenbank Clauss/Slaby no. <a href="http://db.edcs.eu/epigr/edcs_id.php?s_sprache=en&p_edcs_id=EDCS-13500222">EDCS-13500222</a>.
Epigraphische Datenbank Heidelberg no. <a href="https://edh-www.adw.uni-heidelberg.de/edh/inschrift/HD017207">HD017207</a>.
Trismegistos no. <a href="https://www.trismegistos.org/text/199499">199499</a>.
Further reading:
Courtois, Ch., "Sur un baptistère decouvert dans la région de Kélibia (Cap. Bon)", Karthago 6 (1955, 1957), 98-123.
Duval, N., "Notes d'épigraphie chrétienne", Karthago 9 (1958), 139-149.
Images
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Photo: Emilia Mielcarek
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From Y. Duval 1982, no. 25
Record Created By
Stanisław Adamiak
Date of Entry
15/05/2019
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00411 | Cyprian, bishop and martyr of Carthage | Cyprianus | Uncertain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Stanisław Adamiak, Cult of Saints, E07535 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E07535