The Aramaic Inscription from a Cave Complex at Abraham’s House, Mount of Olives and the Hasmonean Calendar: A New Reading and Interpretation

This article presents a new reading and interpretation of the Aramaic burial inscription from the “Abraham’s House” complex. Rather than representing a curse, we propose that the inscription records the year in which the loculus was completed. Moreover, we suggested that year 99 is counted not from...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Morgenstern, Matthew 1968- (Author) ; Ariel, Chanan (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2023
In: Journal for the study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman period
Year: 2023, Volume: 54, Issue: 3, Pages: 293-303
Further subjects:B Hyrcanus
B Epigraphy
B Calendar
B Aramaic
B Numerals
B Hasmonean
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Summary:This article presents a new reading and interpretation of the Aramaic burial inscription from the “Abraham’s House” complex. Rather than representing a curse, we propose that the inscription records the year in which the loculus was completed. Moreover, we suggested that year 99 is counted not from Hyrcanus’ death but rather from the time of his accession to high public office, either as king or as high priest. The use of a continuous numbering system extending back to a foundation date rather than the regnal years of an individual ruler is paralleled by the Seleucid calendar, and also echoes traditions found in Hebrew and Greek sources that such a system was current amongst the Hasmoneans. The identity of Hyrcanus and the implications for the dating of the inscription are also discussed.
ISSN:1570-0631
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman period
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700631-bja10071