Biography
of Absalmos
- Absalmos is attested as a member of a Mithraic community (syndexios).
- Attested at in 3rd century (TNMM 128).
TNMP 138
The name Absalmos, derived from the Aramaic ‘b(d)šlm’ ‘servant of Shalman’, is only found in Dura, Palmyra, Hatra, Edessa, and the mid-Euphrates in general, and is a further confirmation, alongside the Duran iconographic parallels, of the relief’s Syrian provenance. We may assume that Absalmos was the current Father of the community. De Jong suggests a date between late II and late III cent. AD: it is not possible to be more specific.
References
- Richard Gordon (2013) A new Mithraic relief in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
- The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Relief inscribed in Greek depicting the god Mithra slaying a bull.
Attestations
ἐκ τῶν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ ̕Αβσάλμου.
Because of the things [received] from the God, in the time of Absalmos.
