WP 0005

IRT2021
Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania 2021

1179. Christian funerary text (Ain Zara cemetery)

Description: Tomb of rubble, with a plaster surface, w: 1.62 x h: 0.41 x d: 0.51, supported on a plinth w: 0.13-0.19.
Text: Deeply incised with traces of rubrication: i on the south face of the coffin, ii on the west face.
Letters: i: line 1, 0.58-0.75;; line 2, 0.38-0.56; line 3, 0.43-0.70; line 4, 0.50-0.64.

Date: Fifth-sixth century CE (context, lettering)

Findspot: Tripoli: Ain Zara, cemetery, Tomb 39
Original location: Findspot
Last recorded location: Findspot (1911-1914)

Interpretive

i
[In oc tumulo] [[i]ạc̣ẹṭ] c̣ọṛpus bone memorie Ịrasi. bi[xit in pake?]
ạṇọṣ p̣lus minus X̣ṾỊỊ; [Recesit] de oc secolo sub die menṣịṣ Ṣẹp̣ṭẹṃ(ber)
[qu]arta [d]ẹcima. Suscipia<t> te ((Chi-Rho))(istu)s qui bocabi<t> te. In sinu<m> Abrae
( vac. ) angeli dedu<ca>n<t> te. ( vac. )
ii
------
S(an)c(tu)s

Diplomatic

i
[...............]...PUSBONEMEMORIE.RASIBI[.........]
.....LUSMINUS....[.......]DEOCSECOLOSUBDIEMEN.........
[..]ARTA[.].CIMASUSCIPIATE SQUIBOCABITEINSINUABRAE
      ANGELIDEDUNTE      
ii
------
SCS

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

In this tomb lies the body of Irasius, of good memory. He lived [in peace] for more or less 17 years; he left this world on day fourteen of month September. May Christ who has called you receive you; may angels escort you into the bosom of Abraham.

Bibliography: Aurigemma, 1932, 39 and figs.94, 95; mentioned and indexed IRT, 1952, 261, whence mentioned IRT, 2009, 261

Images

   Fig. 1. i: Drawing (Luigi Turba)

   Fig. 2. ii: Drawing (Luigi Turba)