Description: Mosaic floor.
Text: Mosaic lettering, within panels (each w:
0.60 x h:
0.60). i, in Row 10, panel 3; ii, in Row 5, panel 3; iii-v in Row 4, panels 2, 3, 4; vi-viii in Row 2, panels 2-4;
ix-xi in Row 1, panels 2, 3, 4.
Texts vi, vii, viii, ix: written above the image; x: written on
either side; i, iii, iv, v, xi : written at the side; ii: written
within a wreath (internal 0.41)
Letters: Average 0.045; lunate epsilon, sigma, omega; cursive delta in x; cursive lambda in iv, x; rho with slant stroke in i, ii,
iii, v, x; scroll for abbreviation in ii.
Date: CE 539
Findspot: Gebel Akhdar: West of Cyrene:
Theodorias/Gasr Leibia, in the
East Church, on the floor of the nave; found in
1957.
Original location: East end of the nave of the Church
Last recorded location:
Gasr Leibia Museum
English translation
Translation source: Reynolds-Ward-Perkins-Goodchild, 2003
i. The Pharos.
ii. This work too came into being in the time of Makarios the most holy bishop in indiction year 3.
iii. Euphrates.
iv. Castalia.
v. Tigris.
vi. Geon.
vii. Renewal.
viii. Phison.
ix. Adornment.
x. The new city Theodorias.
xi. Foundation.
Commentary
For the building, and for a discussion of the texts, see Reynolds et al., loc cit above., 273-286.
The new city, presumably the settlement at Gasr Leibia, is not otherwise attested and must have been quite small. It was apparently named for the Empress Theodora, and was probably therefore founded during her lifetime. The only year of her reign which was the third of an indiction (see ii, line 7) was CE 539.
Bibliography: Goodchild, 1957, with illustration; i only Goodchild, 1961 with figure 1; Reynolds, 1960 no. 21.I, whence Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1961.835, SEG 18.768.a-j, whence PHI 324465; described, Stucchi, 1975, 400-403; Reynolds, 1980, 145, A, and plates, whence SEG 30.1787.A, whence PHI 324535. Republished in Reynolds-Ward-Perkins-Goodchild, 2003, 281.B; see also Feissel, Bulletin Épigraphique, 2004.554; mentioned Kenrick, 2013, 134 and following.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. Text i (Reynolds XIII.1)
Fig. 2. Text i (Reynolds, SB.IV.269)
Fig. 3. Text ii
Fig. 4. Text ii
Fig. 5. Text ii (Reynolds XIII.4)
Fig. 6. Text iii (Reynolds XIII.10)
Fig. 7. Text v (Reynolds XIII.9)
Fig. 8. Text ix above, vi below (Reynolds XIII.11)
Fig. 9. Text vii (Reynolds XIII.5)
Fig. 10. Text vii (Reynolds, SB.IV.266)
Fig. 11. Text ix (Reynolds XII.10.2
Fig. 12. Text ix (Reynolds XIII.7)
Fig. 13. Texts ix and x (Reynolds, SB.IV.267)
Fig. 14. Text x
Fig. 15. Texts x and xi (Reynolds, SB.IV.270)
Fig. 16. Text xi (Reynolds XIII.6)
Fig. 17. Text xi (Reynolds 12.10.1)
Fig. 18. Text xi (Reynolds, SB.IV.268)