[B-Greek] Abraham's Epitaph
Kevin P. Edgecomb
kevin at bombaxo.com
Tue Nov 10 15:16:13 EST 2009
Dear Donald,
I think actually that this inscription would be better dated to the
Byzantine period, when the Machpelah complex was a church. As may not
be well known, in the Eastern Orthodox Church all the Patriarch,
Matriarchs, and Prophets are considered Saints, and are titled as such
in votive inscriptions, icons, etc. The usage "Agie Abraama", "O
Saint Abraam", is an example of this. As the inscription is identical
to those found in other Byzantine period churches (see, for instance
various of the illustrations in Yoram Tsafrir, _Ancient Churches
Revealed_ [Biblical Archaeology Society, 1993]), it most likely dates
to the Byzantine Period rather than the Second Temple period.
Regards,
Kevin P. Edgecomb
Berkeley, California
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