V 186. Theodoro. Invocation of Constantine, IХ–XIth centuries C.E.

Monument

Type

Circular stele. 

Material

Limestone. 

Dimensions (cm)

H. 29.0, W. 30.5, Th. 9.3.

Additional description

Relief border (H. 0.5cm) runs the perimeter; a relief cross with flaring arms and with a circle in the centre occupy the inset central area of the stele.  

Place of Origin

Theodoro. 

Find place

Mangup. 

Find context

Basilica at the foot of the plateau, altar, central window, filled in with reused material. 

Find circumstances

1984, excavations of V.A. Sidorenko. 

Modern location

Simferopol, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Central Museum of Tavrida, 14630. 

Autopsy

Non vidi. 

Epigraphic field 1

Position

At tips of arms of the cross. 

Lettering

Lapidary. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.7–1.2.

Text 1

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

IХ–XIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

L1. Sidorenko 2010, № 19. 

Edition

Φῶς,
Ζωή.

Diplomatic

ΦΩΣ
ΖΩΗ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
   <ab>
    <lb n="1"/>Φῶς,
    <lb n="2"/>Ζωή.
   </ab>
  </div> 

Translation

Light, life.

 

Commentary

The description, line drawing and a partial rubbing were kindly given to the author by Т.А. Matantseva.

Originally, Text 1 with a typical formula "Life, light" was inscribed on the tips of the arms of the cross (on the formula, see Introduction IV.3.C.b). Subsequently, over the letters of Text 1, a second inscription was cut, with the formula "Jesus is victorious (see Introduction IV.3.C.e), and it appears that the cutter forgot to carve a chi on the bottom arm of the cross. Either at the same time, or later, the cutter also started to carve Text 3: starting from the top part of the border, he then moved into the top right corner, but then interrupted the text, which contains the beginning of a opisthambonos prayer «Save, oh Lord, Thine people» (attested in IGLS 1508). Finally, in the top left corner, the cutter placed an invocative Text 4, arranging the lines vertically to be read from bottom up. The first editor did not read Texts 2-3 and mistakenly attributed the last line of Text 3 to the continuation of Text 4.

On the formula of Text 4, see Introduction IV.3.E.a. The name Constantine is elsewhere attested in Mountainous Crimea at Inkerman (V 150): the epithet "sinner" used with a name can be compared with V 47, V 183, V 236.5, V 325.

The stone was apparently meant for insertion into a wall. The first editor dates the inscription, as well as basilica as a whole, to the 2nd half of the VIth century, but its palaeographic features clearly indicate the Middle Byzantine period.

 

Images

Epigraphic field 2

Position

At the tips of the arms of the cross, over the letters of Text 1. 

Lettering

Lapidary. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.7–1.2.

Text 2

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

IХ–XIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς
νικᾷ.

Diplomatic

ΙΣ
ΝΙΚΑ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
   <ab>
    <lb n="1"/><expan><abbr>Ἰ</abbr><ex>ησοῦ</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan>
    <lb n="2"/>νικᾷ.
   </ab>
  </div> 

Translation

Jesus is victorious.

 

Commentary

See commentary on Text 1.

 

Epigraphic field 3

Position

On the top part of the border (one line) and in the right top corner (one line). 

Lettering

Lapidary. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.7–1.2.

Text 3

Category

 

Date

IХ–XIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

L1. Sidorenko 2010, № 19. 

Edition

[Σῶσον τὸν] λαών σου,
καὶ τόν.

Diplomatic

[........]ΛΑΩΝΣΟΥ
ΚΑΙΤΟΝ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="3">
   <ab>
    <lb n="1"/><supplied reason="lost">Σῶσον</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">τὸν</supplied> λαών σου,
    <lb n="2"/>καὶ τόν.
   </ab>
  </div> 

Translation

Save Thine people and the.

 

Commentary

See commentary on Text 1.

 

Epigraphic field 4

Position

In the top left corner (lines of text reads vertically from the bottom up). 

Lettering

Lapidary. Slightly elongated letters, with pointy semicircles. Large beta, mu with sagging cross-loop. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.7–1.2.

Text 4

Category

 

Date

IХ–XIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Κ(ύρι)ε, βοήθη
τὸν δοῦλόν σου
Κ[ων]σταν-
τῆνον ἁμα-
5ρτολόν.

Diplomatic

ΚΕΒΟΗΘΗ
ΤΟΝΔΟΥΛΟΝΣΟΥ
Κ[..]ΣΤΑΝ
ΤΗΝΟΝΑΜΑ
5ΡΤΟΛΟΝ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="4">
   <ab>
    <lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>, βοήθη
    <lb n="2"/>τὸν δοῦλόν σου
    <lb n="3"/>Κ<supplied reason="lost">ων</supplied>σταν
    <lb n="4" break="no"/>τῆνον ἁμα
    <lb n="5" break="no"/>ρτολόν.
   </ab>
  </div> 

Translation

Oh Lord, save your servant Constantine, a sinner.

 

Commentary

See commentary on Text 1.

 

(cc) © 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
You may download this inscription in EpiDoc XML. (This file should validate to the EpiDoc schema.)