| DESCRIPTION |
|
|---|---|
| Language: | Greek |
| Medium: | Marble |
| Size: | 48 cm high 33—40.5 cm wide [irregular shape] 7.5—11 cm thick |
| Length: | 6 lines of writing |
| Approximate Date: | 150—50 BCE? |
| Place of Discovery: | Island of Delos |
| Date of Discovery: | 1982 |
| Current Location: | ? |
| Identification no.: | SEG 32 (1982):809 |
|
("SYMBOL" font required to read in Greek) |
by K. C. Hanson (Adapted from Llewelyn 1998:148) |
| OI EN DHLW
ISRAELEITAI OI A- PARXOMENOI EIS IERON ARGA- RIZEIN STEFANOUSIN CRUSW STEFANW SARAPIWNA IASO- NOS KNWSION EURGESIAS ENEKEN THS EIS EAUTOUS |
The Israelites of Delos, who donate to the temple
of Mt. Gerezim, crown with a golden crown Sarapion, son of Jason, from Knossos
on account of the benefaction towards them. |
| DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
| 1. What is hellenization and what were its characteristics? How
many aspects of this inscription indicate the effects of hellenization of
the ancient Mediterranean world?
2. On what date was the temple on Mt. Gerezim temple destroyed or desecrated by John Hyrcannus, the Judean monarch? Is it possible that worship continued after that date? Compare 2 Maccabees 5:23; 6:2; and Josephus’ comments in War 1.2.6 and Ant. 13.9.1. 3. Is the "golden crown" mentioned here a literary metaphor or physical symbol? 4. What motivations would a Mediterranean person have for becoming benefactor to a group? 5. What would the importance be of Samaritans outside Palestine supporting the temple? Is there evidence for this same phenomenon relative to the Jerusalem temple? |
| SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY |
Danker, Frederick W. Benefactor: Epigraphic Study of a Graeco-Roman and New Testament Semantic Field. St. Louis: Clayton, 1982. Elliott, John H. "Patronage and Clientelism in Early Christian Society: A Short Reading Guide." Forum 3,4 (1987) 39-49. Hanson, K. C. and Douglas E. Oakman. Palestine in the Time of Jesus: Social Structures and Social Conflicts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998. Kraabel, A. Thomas. "New Evidence of the Samaritan Diaspora has been Found on Delos." Biblical Archaeologist 47 (1984) 44-46. Llewelyn, S. R., editor. New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity. Vol. 8: A Review of the Greek Inscriptions and Papyri Published 1984–85. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998 (pp. 148-51). Mott, S. C. "The Power of Giving and Receiving: Reciprocity in Hellenistic Benevolence." In Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation: Studies in Honor of Merrill C. Tenney. Edited by G. F. Hawthorne, 60-72. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975. Winter, Bruce W. Seek the Welfare of the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. |
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Last Modified: 9 May 2007