ISic002723: Epitaph of Ioudas

ID
ISic002723
Language
Ancient Greek
Text type
funerary
Object type
stele
Status
No data
Links
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Edition

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Apparatus criticus

  • Text of Brugnone;
  • 2-3: Bonomi: alternatively Σαβα<τ>ίας

Physical description

Support

Description
Irregular sandstone stele, recomposed from multiple fragments, damaged on the left
Object type
stele
Material
sandstone
Condition
fragments, contiguous
Dimensions
height: 85 cmwidth: 35 cmdepth: 7-8.5 cm

Inscription

Layout
Large irregular text over three lines
Text condition
incomplete
Lettering

Letter heights
Line 1-3: 35-90mm
Interlinear heights
Interlineation line 1 to 2: mm

Provenance

Place of origin
Philosophiana
Provenance found
Found in excavations of 1954 / 1961, in re-use as a cover in the praefurnium in room IV of the bath complex
Map

Current location

Place
Gela, Italy
Repository
Museo Archeologico Regionale di Gela , 38324
Autopsy
None
Map

Date

4th century CE, in re-use in the bath building (AD 301 – AD 400)
Evidence
archaeological-context

Text type

funerary

commentary

The epitaph is assumed to be of Jewish individual (several inscriptions from Sofiana attest to a Jewish community), the name Ioudas commonly used in Jewish inscriptions; the second word is variously interpreted as an anthroponym (especially if read as Sabatias, derived from 'Sabbath') or as an epithet describing a profession.

Bibliography

Digital editions
Printed editions

Citation and editorial status

Editor
Jonathan Prag
Principal contributor
Jonathan Prag
Contributors
Last revision
4/23/2025