This has been provided a number of times.StephenGoranson wrote: ↑Wed Sep 28, 2022 4:43 amThen, Pete, grace us with your proposed different translations from the Greek.
The Runes of Christ at Dura Europos
https://www.academia.edu/38115589/The_R ... ra_Europos
The two key graffiti are discussed below. The paradigm that these certainly contain Christian nomina sacra is challenged. Alternative interpretations based on known abbreviations in Greek inscriptions are presented. [4] A third graffito “To God in heaven” fails to exhibit the abbreviated Christian form of god or heaven.
The Sisaeus Graffito: ΤΟΝ ΧΡΙC ΜΝΗCΚΕCΤΕ CΙCΕΟΝ TON ΤAΠΙΝΟΝ
This contains the Greek abbreviation XPIC – taken by Yale to represent “Christ”. Yale’s final report relates that “The writer here uses the usual instead of the Christian form of the abbreviation of the holy name.” [5] Χρισ[τον]. However there are some as ́ yet unconsidered other alternatives:
XPIC as XPIC(TES) a “usual” [6] abbreviation of Χρίστης – Χρίσ[της] - one who colors with whitewash, a whitewasher or stucco-maker. No other examples of this abbreviation appear to have been preserved from antiquity. But then again, very few painted murals have survived. In this alternative, Sisaeus the humble wished to be remembered as the stucco-maker and tradesman.
[ETA: Hence the interesting observation from an article you earlier cited: 1963 by R. de Buisson - "L'inscriptions de la niche centrale de la synagogue de Doura-Europos" (Syria 40)
which argues that one artist worked at both the church house and the synagogue. The footnote says: "He claims that two inscriptions in the two buildings refer to the same man (supposedly named Sisa or Siseos)"
A second alternative is based upon existing epigraphic evidence. On other Greek inscriptions XP has been identified as an abbreviation for χρόνος (chrónos - 1.time; 2.year) [7], and IC has been identified as sixteen 16 [8] In this alternative, the inscription is in memory of Sisaeus the humble, resident for, or aged, 16 years. There are indications that Sisaeus may have been a Jewish name.[9]
The Proclus Graffito: ΤΟΝ ΧΝ ΙΝ ΥΜΕΙΝ ΜΝ[Η]CΚΕC[ΘΕ] [ΠΡ]ΟΚΛΟΥ
Yale have provided two different possible alternatives here. The first alternative was that “XN IN” represents “Christ Jesus”. [10] [“Christ Jesus remember Proclus”] The second alternative provided was that the “IN” was not “Jesus” but be translated as “within yourselves”.[“Remind Christ of Proclus among yourselves.”] However there are some as yet unconsidered other alternatives:
On other Greek inscriptions X has been identified as an abbreviation [11] for:
χάρις .... beauty, grace, goodwill 1.(Judaism, Christianity) The grace or favor of God.
χρηστός ..... (khrēstós) 1.good, useful
χρόνος .... • (chrónos)
χρυσά • (chrysá) = 1.neuter plural form of χρυσός (chrysós) gold
χώρᾱ • (khᾱrā) 1.location, place, spot; 2.the proper place; 3.one's place in life;
And N has been identified as an abbreviation [12] for:
νίκα ...... (nika) I conquer, am victorious, overcome, prevail, subdue.
Νικάτωρ ....... victor
νικητής ..... (nikitís) -.winner, victor
Alternatives therefore may be listed as:
The grace of the victor in yourselves;
the good victor in yourselves;
the golden victor in yourselves;
the place or time of the victor in yourselves
– remember Proclus.
This alternative appears strengthened by the fact that the inscription is cut into the border above the mural of David and Goliath (both of whom are explicitly captioned). David is about to claim victory by beheading Goliath.
Footnotes:
[4] Data from Michael Avi-Yonah, Abbreviations in Greek Inscriptions, Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine (Jerusalem: Government of Palestine, 1940) As reprinted in Abbreviations in Greek Inscriptions Al. N. Oikonomides, Professor of Classics Loyola University Chicargo. Illinois, ARES Publishing 1974.
[5] Final Report, p.95
[6] Meaning the first four letters of either Christos or Whitewasher
[7] Ibid p. 112
[8] Ibid p.73
[9] Final Report, p.95 “The name Sisaeus occurs in one of the Dura accounts (P.Dura 47, 3) .... [and] is known as a Jewish name from Josephus, who reports in Ant. Jud. VII, v, 4, 110 that David made a man of this name his secretary.
[10] Preliminary Report, p.241-2
[11] Ibid p.110
[12] Ibid p.87