Greek Amulet of the Shema‘

This third-century-CE amulet with the Hebrew text of the Shema‘ (Deuteronomy 6:4) transliterated into Greek characters was found in the grave of a child during excavations of a Roman villa near Halbturn, Austria. The amulet was written on gold leaf and deposited in a silver capsule.

• ΣΥΜΑ Hear

• ΙΣΤΡΑΗ Istrae

• Λ ΑΔΩ l, the Lor

• ΝΕ ΕΛΩ d is Go

• Η ΑΔΩ d, the Lor

• Ν Α d is 1

Translated by Esther Eshel, Hanan Eshel, and Armin Lange.