The Inscribed Gold Lamellae from Roman Palestine: Old Questions, New Evidence

Abstract

The paper discusses a group of gold lamellae, originating from graves in Roman Palestine, which bear the ancient Greek formula ζάξζεη NN· νὐδεὶο ἀζάλαηνο (Take courage, NN! No one is immortal) or its variations. It also contains a publication of two new lamellae, and several lamellae that have not been associated with this group in the past are added to the list. The new evidence is considered in the context of the ongoing debate on cultural and ritual connotations of the Palestinian lamellae.