Appendix A: The Greek Inscription from Qazion

Its History

This stone was first described by Léon Renier, whose report was published in Ernest Renan’s Mission de Phénicie (1864–1874: 774–77). Renan did not publish a photo, but included a raw drawing of the inscribed lintel. Victor Guérin also discussed the inscription, with a critique of Renier’s restoration (see below, on lines 5–6), in Description géographique, historique et archéologique de la Palestine, Partie 3: Galilée (1880: 447–49). The inscription was frequently cited (from Renier’s text) and included in Jean-Baptiste Frey’s Corpus inscriptionum judaicarum (2.972), but was not seen again until 1984. L. Roth-Gerson examined the stone anew and published it in Greek Inscriptions from the Synagogues in Eretz-Israel (1987: 125–27, no. 30); subsequent references have cited Roth-Gerson’s text and discussion.¹ The stone is presently located in the garden of the president’s residence in Jerusalem and was examined by and photographed under the supervision of R. Hachlili and A. E. Killebrew in the summer of 2009.

The Text and Its Translation

I offer here a corrected text (the Greek accentuation and punctuation in earlier publications was erratic), with some commentary. I supply the standard (Dow 1969: 3–13) epigraphic editorial symbols:

Letters within ( ) = completion of intentional abbreviation on the stone.

Letters within [ ] = resolution of text unreadable or missing (because of broken edges) on the stone.

Letters within [[ ]] = intentional erasure on the stone, where conjectured letters are restored.

These editorial conventions are not indicated in the translation; this text is typical of its genre, era, and political context. I cite some standard epigraphic collections:

CIL

= Corpus inscriptionum latinarum. Berlin, 1863–

IG

= Inscriptiones graecae. Editio minor. Berlin, 1924–

ILS

= Inscriptiones latinae selectae. Edited by Hermann Dessau. Repr., Berlin, 1974.

SEG

= Supplementum epigraphicum graecum. Amsterdam; Leiden, 1923–

SIG³

= Sylloge inscriptionum graecarum. Edited by W. Dittenberger. 4 vols. 3rd ed. Leipzig, 1915–1924.

I cite from ILS and SIG³ by inscription number: e.g., ILS 422, SIG³ 390. I cite from CIL, IG, and SEG by volume number and inscription: e.g., CIL 3.218, IG 2.10, SEG 35: 1972.

1. 1. ‘Yπèρ σωτη[ρί]ας τ[ῶν κυρί]

2. 2. ων ἡμῶν αὐτοκρατ[όρων]

3. 3. καισάρων Λ. Σεπτ[.] Σεου[ήρου]

4. 4. Εὐσεβ. Περτ. Σεβ. καὶ Μ. Αủρ . Ὰ[ντωνεῖ]

Limestone Block Lintel

Limestone block lintel (Figs. 1–2). Length: 1.25 m (broken); height: 60 cm; width: 60 cm (left section missing). Letters: 5–6 cm. Wreath: 33 cm outside circumference; inside: 18 cm; height of letters: 3–4 cm. Damage to upper right corner, right face and side; some damage to lower left face and side. Line 5 partially erased (see below).

Fig. 1.

Photo of the Qazion inscription. (Photo by S. Krapiwko. © The Qazion Archaeological Project.)

Fig. 2.

Drawing of the Qazion inscription. (Drawing by S. Krapiwko. © The Qazion Archaeological Project.)

1. 5. νου [[καὶ Π. Σεπτ. Γ]] έτα υίῶν αủ[τοῦ ἐξ]

2. 6. εủχῆς Ίουδαίων.

   On the left, inside the wreath:

3. 7. καὶ Ίουλίας Δόμνης Σεβ[αστής]

“For the health and well-being of our lord emperors, the Caesars, Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus, and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Publius Septimius Geta, his sons, in accord with the vow of the Jews.”

On the left, inside the wreath: “and of Julia Domna Augusta.”

Its Historical Context

The Severan dynasty encouraged affirmations of support and loyalty, of which this inscription is typical.² There is no implication in this inscription of a dedication in relation to the imperial ruler-cult.

The text may be dated, but only approximately. The basic point is that Septimius and both sons are “Caesars,” that is, ruling jointly. On 8 January 198 CE, Septimius renamed his eldest child, age 8, M(arcus) Aurelius Antoninus Augustus—commonly, but not officially, known as Caracalla³—and “ruled” jointly with him as Augustus (that is, Caracalla would be Severus’ successor). In January 198 CE, as well, the younger son, L(ucius) Septimius Geta was declared “Caesar” (see below, on line 5),⁴ then by 210 CE, “Augustus” (Birley 1988: 132).⁵ Geta’s name at that point was apparently P(ublius) Aurelius Antoninus Geta (Augustus), but (as I note below...