E04598: Greek graffito labelling a carving of a cross, and of a lioness, probably referring to the biblical story of *Daniel (the Old Testament Prophet, S00727) in the Lion's Den. Found in a cave at Tel Lavnin near Beit Guvrin and Eleutheropolis, in the Judean Hills (Roman province of Palaestina I). Probably 5th or 6th c.

In 1999 Boaz Zissu published a report of his exploration of the environs of Tell Lavnin near Eleutheropolis, where two rock-cut, bell-shaped artificial caves had been discovered by Yair Tzoran. The site (also called Tell el-Beida, and possibly identical with Libnah/Λοβανά, known to Eusebius of Caesarea) lies close to unidentified ruins unearthed by antiquities robbers. The caves were explored by Zissu with the aid of Nili and Abraham Graicer, and Alone Klein in 1998. The north cave houses a Greek inscription accompanied by a carving of a large cross, and of a lioness, almost certainly referring to the biblical story of Daniel in the Lion's Den.

The north cave
The north cave is accessible through a rectangular doorway carved in the rock. The interior of the cave widens towards the bottom. A stone staircase leads down to the bottom of the cave round the east, north, and west walls. The cave is about 7 m deep, and its maximum diameter is c. 6 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with dirt and debris, which has not been lifted, so the actual floor-level has not been explored. Cracks in the walls were filled in with plaster and pottery shards, which suggests that the cave was originally a cistern.

An inscription, carved on the upper part of the western wall, reads as follows:

+
Δανιήλ
+ Ἰωάννης
πρεσβ(ύτερος)

'+ Daniel. + Ioannes the presbyter.'

Text: Zissu 1999, 565.

A carving of a large cross is superimposed over the name Daniel. To the right of the inscription there is a scratched image of a lioness. Her body is facing left, and she is shown approaching the cross, but her head faces the reader. She has long claws on the hind legs. The editor notes that it is very likely that another lion(ess) was depicted symmetrically, to the left of the inscription, but only faint traces of eyes or ears are preserved.

The south cave
The south cave also has the shape of a bell. It is connected to the north cave through a hole in the upper section of the shared wall. The south cave is about 8 m deep, and has a diameter of about 6.5 m. Its interior is, likewise, accessible through a staircase which this time leads to a rock shelf. The shelf gives access to three rock-cut chambers, with walls covered by crosses. Their length varies from 3.6 to 7 m. The western chamber has a small front room and two inner ones.