stephan huller

And always remember that the formed letters in inscriptions - especially in Hebrew - don't typically look like letters on a written page. The guy hammering with a chisel has limited technical capabilities. Look at my throne for example:



The first two letters look normal - 'fire' on their own but WTF is the third letter? They said that was a bet.

stephan huller

I'd like to get an actual photo of the inscription.

Duvduv

I do not understand the dating of the 447 as 135 CE. In Hebrew calculations the year would be tav-mem-zayin. In the current fifth millennium this was the year 1687. In the fourth millennium it was the year 687 CE. In the third millennium the year was 313 BCE.

Plus the name of the person is Salman son of Nasa son of Tsaida-Barak.

DCHindley

It refers to the Seleucid era (started 311 BCE), the normal system of dating in the region. So, 447 of the Seleucid era less 311 = 134, plus the 1 yr adjustment to compensate for the lack of a "zero" year = 135 CE.

I have seen Syrian inscriptions that use the era of creation during my searches, but right now I do not recall where. I take it that this is the norm among modern Jews. However, that custom may not have been all that widespread in that time and place.

DCH

Duvduv

Where is the indication that the year was according to the Seleucid calendar? Presumably a Jew would include the Jewish date at least.
In any event, it seems highly unlikely that someone with that name of Salman son of Nasa son of Tsaida-Barak would be a "Christian" except in the minds of those who continue to cling to the unproven belief of "Jewish Christians" for whom not a shred of evidence of any kind exists, including even the slightest mention in the Talmud, midrashim or even writings of the gaonim.

stephan huller

My Lord. The mashuganas are back in full force. Arguing over this nonsense. Really? What's next, debating a rock?

Duvduv

Stephan, if you don't like the exchange you can abstain from participation.......always resorting to name-calling..........

Toto

..

Roger Pearse

It's the normal calendar used in what, until quite recently, had been the Seleucid empire. The "year of the Greeks" was still being used in that region in Syriac manuscript colophons even into the 20th century.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

stephan huller

Samaritan manuscripts too.