Headstone of Yehuda ben Schne’or

The headstone is the oldest preserved dated headstone in Ashkenaz. The sole use of Hebrew inscriptions was exemplary of medieval cemeteries throughout Ashkenaz. The Hebrew inscription provides information on the person’s name and their patronymic. This headstone was discovered in 1922 during work on the late-medieval bridge tower. In 1926, it was erected in the Memorial Cemetery alongside around 180 further headstones and headstone fragments before later being moved to Mainz State Museum for conservation.

On 23 Nissan in the year 809 of the count,

Mr Yehuda, son of Mr Schne’or[MH1] , passed away into his world.

May he rest in peace on his final bed,

and may his soul rest peacefully in the bond of life.

Based on the German translation by the Steinheim Institute; date according to Cuno

Additions to the text are marked pink.