Subject: A SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE
From: <Saved by Microsoft Internet Explorer 5>
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 17:49:31 -0800

A
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE:

Several
scholars have suggested reading the Rahamani Ossuary #701 as: MARIAM H KAI MARA,
as an alternative reading. I did consider this possible transcription already
when I was writing the paper published on our website and the SBL website.
However, in light of the change of scribal hands between MARIAMH and KAI, I
rejected this possible reading. In my opinion, the clear change of scribal hands
precluded even the need to provide this reading as an option in the
article.

It now seems
incumbent upon me that I should address this suggested transcription in the body
of the article since a few have raised the question. Allow me to do so by
presenting several hypothetical, graphic examples. Each is generated using the
letter forms of either the first or second scribe. The first example (in blue,
below) is the complete transcription generated in the scribal hand of the first
scribe who wrote the original MARIAMH.* The transcription would appear as
follows, if the entire inscription had been written by the first
scribe:

If all words
of the inscription were in the standard Greek documentary script (as above) then
the inscription could be read either as:

1)
MAPIAMH KAI MAPA: "Mariame and Mara"

OR,
alternatively

2) MAPIAM
H KAI MAPA: "Mariam who is also Mara"

The second
graphic example (in red, below), is how the transcription would appear had the
second scribe (who originally wrote KAI MARA) written the entire inscription.

Likewise, if
all words were in the Greek cursive script (as above; note especially the form
of the cursive eta) then the inscription could be read
either:

1)
MAPIAMH KAI MAPA: "Mariame and Mara"

OR,
alternatively

2) MAPIAM
H KAI MAPA: "Mariam who is also Mara"

However,
this inscription clearly was written in two distinct script styles (standard
Greek documentary script and Greek cursive script). This being the case, then
two scribes were involved in the writing process and we can assume on separate
occasions. In my judgment, in order not to do violence to the epigraphic
evidence, the inscription should only be read as:

1)
MAPIAMH KAI MAPA: "Mariame
and Mara"

* MAPIAMH is
the preferred Greek word used among the ossuaries for "Mary" (in Rahmani:
MAPIAMH 5x, MAPAIAMH 1x, MAPIEAMH 1x, MAPIAM 1x, MAPIA 1x; from Dominus Flevit
MAPIAMH 1x, MAPA 1x).

Stephen
Pfann, Ph.D. 2007