Kourion Complex Palace (Mosaics) Fales, c. 1955 (1 of 2)De C. Fales (probably)

41

Since [handwritten: ἐξέδρη] is in all probability a definite place in the building, [handwritten: ἀλλαμος] must, also, be one and because [handwritten: ἀλλαμος] is not in apposition to [handwritten: ἐξέδρη], one must assume that it is a it by the conjunctive [handwritten: τε], but joined to separate and distinct room. As a place for baptism [handwritten: τόπος] [handwritten: 267] only possible room is the frigidarium (39) and the ad-[handwritten: Παττίζοματος] as Ammonius describes [handwritten: νυμφών], the joining rooms (40,41,42) on the east side of the latter. [handwritten: 268] In baptism, the church both conceived her spiritual children [handwritten: 269] in the consummation of her marriage and gave them birth. [handwritten: 270] Thus [handwritten: αἰδώς] and [handwritten: σωφροσύνη] [handwritten: ανανανανανανανανανανανανανανανα] [handwritten: ανανανανανανανανανανανανανανανανα]and the third virtue, probably [handwritten: ανανανανανανανανανανανανανανανανανα]are sisters not [handwritten: ανανανα] merely because they [handwritten: κοσμιότης], are related virtues but because they are the daughters of the Church. [handwritten: 271]

Just why there are three sisters it is impossible to say [handwritten: 272] for sure. The three may have represented the Trinity or [handwritten: three watches of] else the three ages of man. [handwritten: 273] In any case, there were not always exactly ten, five wise and five foolish. In the bap-[handwritten: 274] tistery in the house at Dura-Europos there were depicted in one group, at least, only three virgins, though it is possible [handwritten: 275] [handwritten: 276 wise, 277] that on the another wall [handwritten: vix] five may have been placed [handwritten: 278] together. In the church in the oasis in El-Kargeh, seven are [handwritten: 279] depicted together.

Nor were the lamps carried by these virgins, small [handwritten: fixtx]