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Negev. Birsama (Be'er-Shema), 450 CE - 500 CE. Mosaic Pavement. Dedication.
Negev. Birsama (Beer-Shema). Ancient Christian Church. Floor of the Baptistery Chapel.
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ΥΠΕΡϹΩ
ΤΗΡΙΑϹ
ΑΛΦΙΟΥ
ΚΑΙΠΑΝ
ΤΟϹΤΟΥ
ΟΙΚΟΥΑΥ
ΤΟΥΚΑΙΑ
ΝΑΠΑΥϹΕ
ΩϹΔΙΟΝΥ
ϹΙΑϹ
Υπέρ σω
τηρίας
Ἄλφιου
καὶ παν
τός τοῦ
οἴκου αὐ
τοῦ καὶ
ἀ
ναπαύσε
ως Διονυ
σίας
For the salvation of Alphios and of all of his family and for the rest of Dionysia.
A commemorative inscription on the floor of the Baptistery Chapel to the right of the baptismal font. It is recorded in black tiles on a white background, and is set into a rectangular frame. The content of the text is very similar to that of Birs0001. The word salvation (σωτηρίας) can apply to a living or dead person, while the word rest (ἀναπαύσεως) was applied only to the deceased. The different application of these two words indicates that Alphios was living at the time of the inscription, while Dionysia (who was likely a member of his family) was not. The inscription makes use of lunate sigmas as well as large miniscule omegas (in the place of majuscule omegas). The last line of the inscription is damaged. The editor notes that the name Alphios is of Semitic origin and that the name Dionysia, while originally pagan, had become a common name for Christians as well during this period.