V 222. Eski-Kermen. Invocation of an unknown, XI–XIIIth centuries C.E.

Monument

Type

Stele. 

Material

Limestone. 

Dimensions (cm)

Unknown.

Additional description

On the front, a zigzag ornamental band runs horizontally across the lower half. Broken at the bottom. 

Place of Origin

Eski-Kermen. 

Find place

Eski-Kermen. 

Find context

Basilica, south apse, exterior. 

Find circumstances

1930, excavations of F.I. Schmit. 

Modern location

Unknown. 

Institution and inventory

Unknown. 

Autopsy

Non vidi. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

Graffito. 

Letterheights (cm)

1.0–1.5.

Text

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

L1. Vinogradov 2004, 123–130. 

Edition

Κ(ύρι)ε, β[οήθει τὸν]
δοῦλό[ν σου τὸν δεῖνα].

Diplomatic

ΚΕΒ[........]
ΔΟΥΛΟ[............]

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
   <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>, β<supplied reason="lost">οήθει</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">τὸν</supplied>
      <lb n="2"/>δοῦλό<supplied reason="lost">ν</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">σου</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">τὸν</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">δεῖνα</supplied>.
   </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Lord, help your servant...

 

Commentary

The photograph published here is preserved at the Photo Archive, Institute for History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences (О.27.44; II–2445). The archival information about the inscription can be found at the Manuscript Archive, Institute for History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences Д. 127. Л. 168 об. (Diary of excavations at Eski-Kermen Л. 156–204; the information was kindly provided to us by S.V. Kharitonov).

This is a typical graffito on a church wall, the practice known in the Middle Ages from countless examples. The apse wall, and in particular its south side, was the favourite location for such graffiti (cf. the church in Kudrino). The formula used in this text was also extremely popular (see Introduction IV.3.E.a).

 

Images

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