E02845: Wall painting with labelled depictions of three saints, possibly *Ares, Promos, and Elias (Egyptian martyrs of Ascalon, S00196). The identity of Ares was perhaps changed at a later date to that of *Sergios (soldier and martyr of Rusafa, S00023). Found in Caesarea Maritima (Roman province of Palaestina I), close to the site of the presumed 'chapel St. Paul'. Late 6th - early 7th c.

Wall painting showing three male figures in the posture of orants. The editor arguably identifies their garments as those of bishops. The figures are flanked by two trees and stand among flowers. The scene is enclosed in a red frame. Dimensions of the painting: H. 0.97 m; W. 2.8 m. Thickness of the frame: 0.045 m. The painting is situated on the south wall of vault 11 of the praetorium of Caesarea, in Area CC, to the north of the so-called 'Paul's chapel' (for a description of this, see: $E02853). The function of the room where the painting was foun, is not clear. Based on the saintly character of the decorations, Joseph Patrich suggested that it could have been used for some religious or charitable activities. First published by Tamar Avner in 1999. Later commented on by Leah Di Segni, Joseph Patrich, and Walter Ameling.

Labels:

The labels are written over the saints' heads and some of them are divided by their nimbi. Those on both sides of the nimbi are in red paint. Above them one can see letters in green paint, probably added in a later phase. Letter height c. 0.05 m.

The labels were originally read and published by Avner together with the first edition of the painting. She read the first saint's name as [+ Ἰωάν]νης/'John' (whom she identified as the Baptist, based on a superimposed green Π, possibly from Πρόδρομος, the 'Forerunner'); the name of the middle figure as [+ ....]μος (and restored the name as Zosimos, Anthimos, or Maximos); and the name of the last character as [+ - - -]ας, probably Elias, based on the superimposed green letters ΗΑΙC.

After a re-examination of the paintings, Leah Di Segni suggested in a letter to the editors of the Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum that the red and green labels should be treated separately and that the names of the saints were re-painted. Furthermore, the name of the first figure was apparently changed during this 'restoration'. According to Di Segni the names read as follows:

Presumed first phase:

1(a) Ἀ[ρή]της / Aretes (= Ares)

2(a) [Πρό]μος / Promos

3(a) [Ἠλί]ας / Elias

Presumed second phase:

1(b) Σ[έρ]γης / Sergios

2(b) Π[ρό]μος / Promos

3(b) Ἠλίας {ΑΣ} / Elias

Text: CIIP 2, no. 1165 and SEG 50, 1474.