A Greek Tombstone Inscription

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The Center for Advanced Judaic Studies Library possesses a marble plaque containing the Greek epitaph of a man or boy whose Jewish identity is signified by the name Jeremias and the image of a menorah inscribed on the bottom right corner of the stone. This tombstone inscription probably dates from the 4th-5th centuries C.E., possibly from Palestine. Among the noteworthy features of this brief but enigmatic text is the appearance of two personal names not previously attested in either the Jewish or the Greco-Roman onomastica: Kolokasias and the feminine noun Theodotus. It is proposed that the inscription be translated as follows:

"Grave of Jeremias Kolokasias. Iose and Theodotus (made this) for their son"

Short name for this entry
Greek Tombstone

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A Greek Tombstone Inscription

Order on exhibit page
17
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