Abstract
These are the latest two volumes in a multi-volume reference work collecting and cataloguing surviving inscriptions from Judea/Palestine from the time of Alexander to Muhummad. The first volume, published in two parts, which appeared in 2010 and 2012 respectively, covered the inscriptions with a provenance in Jerusalem. The second volume catalogues the inscriptions of Caeserea Maritima and the coastal region from Tel Aviv in the south to Haifa in the north, and contains 1040 entries. The third volume documents 488 entries collected from Tel Aviv in the north to Raphia in the south.
Entries differ slightly from case to case depending on the nature of the surviving artefact. Typically they include a brief description, reference to the ‘findspot’, a transcription of the inscription in the original language, translation, an image—photograph, line drawing, or representation, a brief commentary, a bibliography, and reference to the source of the image. The richness of the data and the insights into the culture of the region over approximately a thousand-year period cannot be overestimated. Of particular interest are the bilingual inscriptions. These provide important insights on the cultural diversity, although the level of bilingualism is frequently limited. That last result may challenge some claims being advanced on behalf of the historical Jesus, although the reality is that although this dataset is rich it cannot establish anything about individual cases.
In each volume the inscriptions are arranged by geographical area of find. Thus Volume Three opens with six inscriptions from Tel Mikhal, prior to presenting five inscriptions from the area of modern Tel Aviv. This arrangement continues throughout the volumes. A number of fascinating inscriptions from Ioppe (modern Jaffa) is contained in volume three. Number 2259, dated 105/6
One could multiply fascinating examples on every page of these two hugely significant volumes. They will continue to be consulted widely and with great profit. These volumes are major reference and research tools, and the editors and contributors are to be praised for this magnificent work.