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

6

At least, the interpretation of [handwritten: εἰδέ] as a singular, second person imperative of [handwritten: εἴδον] is consistent with the prosody, the grammar, and the orthography of the times and is not in[handwritten: then]- congruous with the meaning of the inscription. The word [handwritten: ^ had a] deictic signification and might best be translated as 'lo'. The most striking words in the inscription are [handwritten: ῥήματα]

. These xixxx signs are contrasted with certain material objects of which the last mentioned is

Handwritten: Χριστοῦ

emphasized by the word [handwritten: αὐτοῦ] and is, xixx also, the hardest- xixix steel. There are at least four possible interpretations of these signs and contrasted objects. The inscription may mean that this building is built not of large stones but of small stones-which is for the most part, xxxx true-and that these xx small stones are not held together by any form of metal clamps but by the xixxx signs of Christ. Metal clamps were by and large used very sparingly in Roman buildings. In other words, the force holding this building together is the grace of God as typified by the signs of Christ. However, such an interpretation seems somewhat far-fetched and to suppose too great and detailed a general knowledge of architectural details. Secondly the [handwritten: ῥήματα] might be infered to mean that the people who used these rooms were Christians whose faith and not material substances such as stones and copper upheld the building. [handwritten: 25] However, the word [handwritten: ῥήματα] denotes that the signs were an xxxx integral