‘Atiqot - Publications of the Israel Antiquities Authority

‘Atiqot 78 (2014) ISBN 2948-040X

A Bread Stamp from Horbat Ma‘on (pp. 31–36)
Leah Di Segni
Keywords: monastery, church, Christianity, theology, Christ, epigraphy, Eucharist, eulogiae
A pottery bread stamp was discovered in Stratum IV at Horbat Ma‘on, dated to the end of the Byzantine period. The bread stamp has a disk-shaped base and a round knob handle. The handle top is decorated with a cross and the base of the stamp bears a Greek inscription that reads: “Blessing of (Saint?) Stephen”. The inscription indicates that the stamp was used for preparing buns that were handed out at a church as a memento of a visit to that church. It is proposed that the excavated complex at Horbat Ma‘on included a church of St. Stephen and possibly served as the residence of the bishop of Menois.