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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1332
TM IDTM 105137
Findspot (DEChriM ID)3   (Maʿbad Hībis)
ClassTextual
MaterialPlaster
Writing mediumDipinto, Inscription
Text contentSubliterary
LanguageGreek
Description

I.Temple Hibis 30; IGChrEg 360.

Painted inscription on the interior of the Inner Gateway of the Temple. It is located on the east half of the north wall near the center. Painted in red ocher; the letters are high and narrow, with thin strokes. The text reads "Grace of God" followed by the Christian cryptogram ΧΜΓ. Initial and final Greek cross. Unconventional use of supralinear strokes for nomina sacra.

It is partly covered by two Coptic dipinti later painted on a thin coat of lime wash (no. 31 and 32). Below is an oblong painted frame with elongated corners and faint traces of a painted text.

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts, Christian symbols/gestures/isopsephy, Nomina sacra
Date from350
Date to450
Dating criteria

Location and content suggest that it was painted during the early times of use of the church (see Wagner 1987: 361).

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context


Accession number

Hibis temple, in situ.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

New edition

• Cruz-Uribe, Eugene. 2008. Hibis Temple Project. Volume 3, The graffiti from the Temple Precinct. San Antonio, Texas. no. 117.

Editio princeps

• White, H.G. Evelyn and Oliver, James H. 1938. The Temple of Hibis in el-Khargeh Oasis. Vol. II: Greek Inscriptions. New York, no. 30.

Additional bibliography

• Chaniotis, A., Corsten, T., Stroud, R.S. and Tybout, R.A. 2008. “SEG 58-1813. Khargeh Oasis. Hibis. Collection of inscriptions.” In Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum, Current editors: A. T. E. N. Chaniotis Corsten Stavrianopolou Papazarkadas. Consulted online on 20 July 2021.

• de Bock, W. 1901. Matériaux pour servir à l'archéologie de l'Égypte chrétienne. St. Petersburg, p. 38, fig. 53. 

• Lefebvre, Gustave.1907. Recueil des inscriptions grecques-cbretiennes d'Égypte. Cairo, no. 360 (from Bock's copy).

• Wagner, Guy. 1987. Les oasis d'Égypte. Cairo, p. 361, n. 2.

Authors
Valérie Schram, 2021
Suggested citation
Valérie Schram, 2021, "Artefact ID 1332", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1332
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