Megiddo Mosaic Translation

(November 27, 2024)  Top view of the mosaic floor of a Roman Legion Druid temple showing its 3 inscriptions. The texts provide reminders to the Druid Shepherds/Bards (priests of the motion powers representing emotion and astrology magic) leading the rituals. The alter is in the middle making the whole layout similar to what is used in Pagan group rituals today where everyone circles around the alter or face it under the direction of a priest/priestess. (photo from Tepper and Segni, 2006).

Fish are Druid symbols for the magical motion powers based upon Akkadian word similarities. The first generation of Christians adopted this symbol to represent their feminine Holy Spirit which for them was far more important than an apocalyptic Jesus. This letter style is used for both Druid Akkadian and Koine Greek which was the eastern Mediterranean form of Greek written during the Hellenistic, the Roman and the early Byzantine periods. Its main characteristic is that the letter shin, Greek Σ (Akkadian Ṣ), is written like a C. Yet this is  Druid Akkadian text showing that the two languages co-existed in the Eastern Mediterranean for a while and shared similar letter styles.

Text 1 Translation From Akkadian

  1. Emotional-Energy for Ayu can result in the emotional-effects of inhibition. Involve her network-bird eagle-vultures with astrology-magic. Dawn can make scarce the life-threads. Instigate (with Thu) the high-life-powers of the near-realm to activate Hu.  Clarity will reveal astrology-magic. Shouldn't we have a plan?
  2.  Astrology-magic (involving Su) can make ineffective the emotional-triggering of the reed-mat (life network). The Reed-Boat (Ayu) can make ineffective emotional-effects activating starvation. Astrology-magic of Su can reveal the life-channels. The Woman (Ayu) will be revealed.
  3. Confusing Hu will bring near the layout (of the life network). Energizing Hu will activate the reassignments for the nourishments (fertility fluids). The shepherds weaving will make scarce Hu. Falseness will expel the neglected-ones (eagle vultures) [word]

Text 2 Translation From Akkadian

  1. The fertility-fluid's stillness can be a curse for revealing nothing.  Is not activity the result of astrology-magic being ineffective?
  2. Emotional-coercion (using emotion magic from the shepherd) can redirect the emotions towards the reed-mat (life network).  Constrain the irrigation-network (life network), not the shepherds.
  3. They are involved with Hu's activity. Involve them with the life-channels. Su can shepherd the nourishments (fertility fluids). Ineffectiveness is the result of activity.
  4. The boundary's life-channels can make ineffective the involvement. That will confuse the anointed-one's (life powers) activity. Astrology-magic reveals Hu.

Text 3 Translation From Akkadian

  1. Open the shepherd's activation of Hu. The Revealer (Kate/Hekate) can irrigate the reassignments (of the life network's channels).
  2. Emotion-owls can make ineffective the openings from the pasture's Originator (Su)
  3. Don't be alarmed at the plan for threading Yahu's/Yahweh's activity.
  4. The stuffing (life network) is revealing the changes in the Veiler's (Kate/Hekate) ineffectiveness
  5. Emanations (light, heat, rain) can result from the revelations of QS IYŠS (Qis's Isis)
  6.  Support Hu's pushing. Don't activate the emotional-effects of the Revealer (Kate/Hekate, Druid analog of Egyptian Isis)

Comment on the Nomena Sacra of Text 3


Qis was a major city along the Nile which during the Middle Kingdom was a center for the goddess Hathor. It developed a major necropolis which seems to have continued into Byzantine times. The city was still important enough in the 400's to station the Legio II Flavia Constantia there. Other than that not much else is known. Perhaps during the Roman times it became a center to the Isis mystery cult due to its necropolis.

The Incorrect Christian Translation

When this was proposed the existence of an alphabet form of Akkadian was not even imagined. Consequently, the text had to either be Greek or Hebrew. It was not Hebrew so it had to be Greek. Consequently, the evidence was forced to fit this assumption even though it meant committing translation fraud in which letters where ignored and other ones added. The Greek words are sort of close to what exists in the text but not really. (Try convincing your first year foreign language teacher that your answers on a test a "close-enough.") Additionally the Christian translation uses a lot of name which being an arbitrary cluster of letters is not a translation.

The mosaic was put on temporary display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC in 2024 under the mistaken belief that these were Christian Texts. This will be on display from September 15, 2024, to July 6, 2025.  (Photo in Robert Duke  September 26, 2024)
Artist reconstruction of the mosaic room being used as a Druid temple by the Legions. This is different from the house churches in use by the Christians during this same time period. (Image from Vassilios Tzaferis March/April 2007)
The small Roman Lares found in a building at the site. This is an Akkadian word meaning "Diverter" so these protective deities were thought to divert evil and enhance prosperity for the household. Thus they typically hold a cornucopia (horn of plenty). Photo from Vassilios Tzaferis (March/April 2007)

Historical Background

(November 27, 2024) This mosaic was discovered in 2005 in a building dated to around 230 CE. Because this was in the way of the prison expansion an archaeological rescue dig was undertaken immediately. The mosaic once decorated the floor of a room almost 500 sq. ft. in size. Earlier archaeological surveys of the area had identified an ancient village (Kfar Othnay) adjacent to a expedition camp used by two Roman legions with one of them (Second Traiana legion) being homebased in Egypt. Later the Byzantine city of Maximianopolis developed beside the village.

During the 100's CE shortly after the Jewish revolt, the Romans erected a military camp in this area. These would have a small contingent of guard troops keeping it ready for full use by two legions, the Second Traiana and the Sixth Ferrata. Consequently, this region thus became known as the Legio. The Second Traiana legion was home-based in Alexandria Egypt. (Wikipedia) In contrast the Sixth Ferrata was usually based in Syria. The symbol for the Sixth Ferrata was the bull. (Wikipedia).

A bronze statuette of a Roman house protection deity called a Lares was uncovered in a large building nearly 65 feet wide and 100 feet long (20 x 30 meters) at the edge of the Jewish village.

The village of Kfar Othnay is mentioned in Jewish sources (Mishnah Gittin 7:7) and in Ptolemy’s writings, and is located on the famous Peutinger map (originally drawn in the 100's CE), where it is called by its Latin name, Caporcotani. The excavation uncovered a number of miqva’ot (Jewish ritual baths) in Kfar Othnay, but they may have been used by the Samaritans rather than the Jews, because the sources also indicate that Othnay was home to Samaritans.

The initial assumption that this was a Christian mosaic was due to the existence of the two fish in the middle of the right mosaic, which traditionally have been though of as being Christian symbols. But fish are actually Druid symbols used around the Mediterranean which represent the feminine spiritual powers of motion due to Akkadian word similarities. The other assumption is that the existence of certain lines above two words forming a Nomena Sacra was only used in Christian texts. Trouble is, this set does not match any text found in such Christian sources. Instead it is a reference to the Egyptian goddess Isis indicating the lines above the letters were used to indicate deities or divine powers.

This Pagan fish motif is clearly seen in Minoan and Mycenean art and it remained common throughout the eastern Mediterranean. That art often showed pictures of dolphins which often travelled at the bow of fast travelling sailing ships. Flying fish are also heavily represented. The Akkadian word for fish is ziqqatû. The Akkadian word for breath, wind, spirit (all emotion/emotion powers) is ziqu. A /t/ word ending in Akkadian indicates the thing is feminine. So fish became symbols for the divine feminine. For early Christians, this was the Holy Spirit. 

The text turns out to be about these motion/emotion powers.

References

Legio II Traiana Fortis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_II_Traiana_Fortis
Legio VI Ferrata. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_VI_Ferrata
Robert Duke for the Museum of the Bible (September 26, 2024) The Megiddo Mosaic: A Community Coming Together to the Table. Online at: https://www.museumofthebible.org/magazine/exhibitions/the-megiddo-mosaic-a-community-coming-together-to-the-table?gad_source=1
Vassilios Tzaferis (March/April 2007) Inscribed “To God Jesus Christ” Early Christian Prayer Hall Found in Megiddo Prison. Biblical Archaeological Society. Online at: https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/inscribed-to-god-jesus-christ/?_gl=1*147ftzp*_gcl_au*OTg1MTIxNDEyLjE3MzIxMDc4Mzc.*_ga*NTU3Njg0Mzc2LjE3MzIxMDc4Mzc.*_ga_7MSGCYKLB3*MTczMjUzNDQxOC4zLjAuMTczMjUzNDQxOC42MC4wLjE1NTAxOTk3ODU.
Yotam Tepper (14 April 2022) The Roman Legionary Base in Legio-Kefar ‘Othnay – The Evidence from the Small Finds. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/rome-an-empire-of-many-nations/roman-legionary-base-in-legiokefar-othnay-the-evidence-from-the-small-finds/53AE064F5365D671E74D74A9459A7C6D
Yotam Tepper and Leah Di Segni, with contribution by Guy Stiebel (2006) A CHRISTIAN PRAYER HALL OF THE THIRD CENTURY CE AT KEFAR ‘OTHNAY (LEGIO) - Excavations at theMegiddo Prison 2005. Israel Antiquities Authority. Online at: https://www.academia.edu/388053/A_Christian_Prayer_Hall_of_the_Third_Century_CE_at_Kefar_Othnay_Legio_Jerusalem_2006

The use of Akkadian letters in Judea (so called Paleo-Hebrew) through the Bar Kochba revolt (132–136 CE)


Boaz Zissu and Omri Abadi (2014) PALEO-HEBREW SCRIPT IN JERUSALEM AND JUDEA FROM THE SECOND CENTURY B.C.E. THROUGH THE SECOND CENTURY C.E.: A RECONSIDERATION Journal for Semitics 23/2i pages 653-664. Online at:  https://www.academia.edu/11259149/Paleo_Hebrew_Script_in_Jerusalem_and_Judea_from_the_Second_Century_BCE_Through_The_Second_Century_C_E_A_Reconsideration_2015_?email_work_card=view-paper

Druid Deities Mentioned

Druid Spiritual Concepts Mentioned

(November 27, 2024)  Photo from Tepper and Segni (2006). Letter assignments by Olmsted using Sea People's letter chart.

Translation of Lines 1 and 2 in Akkadian  

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration
  1. Gi AYu A Ne'u Ṣe'u.   Ku A Pa'u Ru Ṭa.  URu IṢu Qu. ADu ELu Ṭa'u Ṣu Ḫu. MaSu Nu Ṭu. Yu La'u (Text Levant 80.1.1)
  2. Tu E IMu ḪiṢu. AMu E Ne'u Ṣu EKu. Tu Su Nu IDu. ISu Nu (Text Levant 80.1.2)

In English

  1. Emotional-Energy for Ayu can result in the emotional-effects of inhibition. Involve her network-bird eagle-vultures with astrology-magic. Dawn can make scarce the life-threads. Instigate (with Thu) the high-life-powers of the near-realm to activate Hu.  Clarity will reveal astrology-magic. Shouldn't we have a plan?
  2.  Astrology-magic (involving Su) can make ineffective the emotional-triggering of the reed-mat (life network). The Reed-Boat (Ayu) can make ineffective emotional-effects activating starvation. Astrology-magic of Su can reveal the life-channels. The Woman (Ayu) will be revealed.

Claimed Christian Greek Translation of all 3 lines is:

  1. Gaianus, also called Porphyrius, centurion, our brother, 
  2. has made the mosaic at his own expense 
  3. as an act of generosity. Brutius has carried out the work

 (November 27, 2024)  Rectangle highlights the supposed Greek phrase: "Brutius has carried out the work.."

Translation of Line 3 in Akkadian  

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration
  1. EŠu Ḫu a'u La'u. Gu Ḫu Ṣu ENu Bu. Re'u WaTu IṢu Ḫu. RaGu AṢu EGu [word] (Text Levant 80.1.3)

In English

  1. Confusing Hu will bring near the layout (of the life network). Energizing Hu will activate the reassignments for the nourishments (fertility fluids). The shepherds weaving will make scarce Hu. Falseness will expel the neglected-ones (eagle vultures) [word]

(November 27, 2024)  Photo from Tepper and Segni (2006). Letter assignments by Olmsted using Sea People's letter chart.

Translation of Lines 1 and 2 in Akkadian  

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration
  1. Mu NeḪu M'a Nu E.  Yu Ṣu A Tu E (Levant 80.2.1)
  2. PaRu IWu IMu ḪiṢu.  KaLu IKu, Yu ReYu (Levant 80.2.2)

In English

  1. The fertility-fluid's stillness can be a curse for revealing nothingIs not activity the result of astrology-magic being ineffective?
  2. Emotional-coercion (using emotion magic from the shepherd) can redirect the emotions towards the reed-mat (life network).  Constrain the irrigation-network (life network), not the shepherds.

(November 27, 2024)  Photo from Tepper and Segni (2006). Letter assignments by Olmsted using Sea People's letter chart.

Translation of Lines 3 and 4 in Akkadian  

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration
  1. A Ku Ḫi Ṣu .  Ku A IDu. Su Re'u Bu. E A Ṣu (Levant 80.2.3)
  2. ETu IDu E Ku. A IŠu ReḪu Ṣu. Tu Ḫu Nu (Levant 80.2.4)

In English

  1. They are involved with Hu's activity. Involve them with the life-channels. Su can shepherd the nourishments (fertility fluids). Ineffectiveness is the result of activity.
  2. The boundary's life-channels can make ineffective the involvement. That will confuse the anointed-one's (life powers) activity. Astrology-magic reveals Hu.
The box outlines what Christians think is the word Akeptous, a woman's name. 

Translation of Text 3, Lines 1 and 2

(November 27, 2024)  

Translation of Lines 1 and 2 in Akkadian  

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration
  1. Pa Re'u Ṣu Ḫu. Nu IKu ENu (Levant 80.3.1)
  2. AKu E Pu Ta'u UṢu (Levant 80.3.2)

In English

  1. Open the shepherd's activation of Hu. The Revealer (Kate/Hekate) can irrigate the reassignments (of the life network's channels).
  2. Emotion-owls can make ineffective the openings from the pasture's Originator (Su)

Claimed Christian Greek Translation of all 5 lines is:

  1. The God-loving 
  2. Akeptous 
  3. has offered the table 
  4. to God Jesus Christ 
  5. as a memorial.

Photo from Tepper and Segni (2006). Letter assignments by Olmsted using Sea People's letter chart.

Translation of Text 3, Lines 3 and 4

(November 27, 2024)

Translation of Lines 3 and 4 in Akkadian 

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration
  1. ḪaṬu Ya La'u Qu E'u Ṣu (Levant 80.3.3)
  2. TaḪu Nu TaRu APu E (Levant 80.3.4)

In English

  1. Don't be alarmed at the plan for threading Yahu's/Yahweh's activity.
  2. The stuffing (life network) is revealing the changes in the Veiler's (Kate/Hekate) ineffectiveness

Translation of Text 3, Lines 5 and 6

(November 27, 2024) The words QS IYŠS in this text seem to represent a proper name Qisu Iysis in which Iysis is a girls names derived from the Egyptian goddess Isis. Consequently, this may be a local variant of the goddess Isis.

Translation of Lines 5 and 6 in Akkadian 

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration
  1. Zu A Nu .  QS .  IYŠS (Levant 80.3.5)
  2. MaNu Ḫu Ma'u Ṣu Ya Na'u Nu (Levant 80.3.6)

In English

  1. Emanations (light, heat, rain) can result from the revelations of QS IYŠS (QiS's Isis)
  2.  Support Hu's pushing. Don't activate the emotional-effects of the Revealer (Kate/Hekate)

The Christian justification of the Lined translation. Not only are their letter assignments wrong but abbreviations are only found on Roman coins (or on fraudulent translations which need to leave out letters to get the desired words)
The words “God Jesus Christ” appear at the end of the fifth line; they are abbreviated, as indicated by the line above the letters. ΘΩ = ΘΕΩ, Theos (“God”); ΙΥ = ΙΗΣΟΥ, Iēsou (“Jesus”); ΧΩ = ΧΡΙΣΤΩ, Christō (“Christ”).  (from Wood, 2024)

Reference


Bryant G. Wood (September 16, 2024) Three Extraordinary Early Christian Inscriptions. Online at: https://biblearchaeology.org/research/topics/amazing-discoveries-in-biblical-archaeology/5181-three-extraordinary-early-christian-inscriptions
Then again "Nomena Sacra" may not be so sacred but only indicate an abbreviated word. Here is a name abbreviated to TIB at the top of this Greek temple dedication honoring a man named "Tiberius Antistius Kineas." It dates to about 100 CE, only slightly earlier than the mosaic. This is now at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Photo by Jamie Heath. Online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mumblerjamie/53564330647/in/album-72177720315198100/

Nomena Sacra Examples

(November 27, 2024) Latin started exhibiting word abbreviations shortly after the start of the empire around 30 CE where they are often seen in the names of Roman coins. But these had no line indicators. In contrast, people in the Greek speaking eastern empire added lines above their abbreviations. Christians who started writing about this time also started using lined abbreviations for words and phrases which were often repeated. These include such phrases as, ΙΥ and ΘΥ, representing "of/from Jesus" (Yeshua), and "God Jesus" (Theos Yeshua) respectively.  In Christian circles these lined abreviations came to be called "Nomena Sacra" for "Sacred Names." This practice ended around 300 CE for unknown reasons.

Biblical scholar and textual critic Bruce M. Metzger (1981) lists 15 such words  shown below but none of these match what is in the Megiddo Mosaic.

English Greek word Nominative Possessive Form (adds Y/I to end)

God Θεός, Theos ΘΣ ΘΥ

Lord Κύριος, Kyrios ΚΣ, ΚΣ ΚΥ, ΚΥ

Jesus Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous ΙΣ, ΙΗΣ ΙΥ, ΙΗΥ

Christ/Messiah Χριστός, Christos ΧΣ, ΧΡΣ ΧΥ

Son Υἱός, Huios ΥΣ ΥΥ

Spirit Πνεῦμα, Pneuma ΠΝΑ ΠΣ, ΠΝΣ, ΠΝΟΣ

David Δαυίδ, Dauid ΔΑΔ

Cross Σταυρός, Stauros ΣΤΣ ΣΤΥ

Mother Μήτηρ, Mētēr ΜΗΡ, ΜΡ ΜΡΣ

Father Πατήρ, Patēr ΠΗΡ, ΠΡ ΠΡΣ

Israel Ἰσραήλ, Israēl ΙΗΛ

Savior Σωτήρ, Sōtēr ΣΗΡ ΣΡΣ

Human Ἄνθρωπος, Anthrōpos ΑΝΟΣ ΑΝΟΥ

Jerusalem Ἱερουσαλήμ, Ierousalēm ΙΛΗΜ

Heaven/Heavens Οὐρανός, Ouranos ΟΥΝΟΣ ΟΥΝΟΥ

Reference

Nomina sacra - Wikipedia article online at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomina_sacra

Metzger, Bruce Manning (1981). Manuscripts of the Greek Bible: An Introduction to Palaeography. Oxford University Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-19-536532-0. "In the developed Byzantine usage the fifteen nomina sacra in their nominative and genitive forms are as follows: [...] Scholars differ in accounting for the origin and development of the system of nomina sacra."