V 236. Laspi. Graffiti on a colonnette, XI–XIIth centuries C.E.

Monument

Type

Column. 

Material

Limestone. 

Additional description

Multi-faceted (nonagonal?) colonnette, with taenia crown (depth ca. 0,3cm). Broken into mutiple fragments, representing at most five facets; broken off at the bottom; letters on Fragment 1 are traced with pencil. 

Place of Origin

Laspi. 

Find place

Laspi. 

Find context

Church of St. George (St. Elias). 

Find circumstances

1976, excavations of E.A. Parshina. 

Institution and inventory

, no inventory number. 

Autopsy

September 2009. 

Fragment 1

Dimensions (cm)

H. 31.0, W. 12.0.

Modern location

Alushta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Crimean Branch of the Institute of Archaeology, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field 1

Position

At the top. 

Lettering

Graffito. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.3–1.8.

Text 1

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/><orig><unclear>Ι</unclear>Τ</orig>
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

Commentary

I inspected Fragment 1 in 1999 at the Crimean Branch, Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, but had no opportunity to photograph or to describe the script in detail. The purpose of the colonnette, apparently hollow and crowned with a Corinthian capital, with images of eagles at the corners, is unclear.

The archaeological date is IX–Xth centuries.

 

Epigraphic field 2

Position

In the middle. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 2

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/><orig>ΑΣΤΥΑΝ</orig>
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

Epigraphic field 3

Position

Below.  

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 3

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="3">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><gap reason="illegible" extent="unknown" unit="character"/><orig>ΝΗΙΜ</orig>
      <lb n="2"/><gap reason="illegible" extent="unknown" unit="character"/><orig>ΗΛΙ</orig><gap reason="illegible" quantity="2" unit="character"/><orig>Α</orig>
      <lb n="3"/><gap reason="illegible" extent="unknown" unit="character"/><orig>Τ<unclear>ΙΟ</unclear></orig> <gap reason="illegible" quantity="2" unit="character"/>
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

Epigraphic field 4

Position

At the top. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 4

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

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>, <supplied reason="lost">β</supplied>οήθη τὸν
      <lb n="2"/>δοῦ<supplied reason="lost">λ</supplied>όν σου Οὔγριν.
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Lord, help your servant Ougrin.

 

Commentary

On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.E.a.

The name Ougrin is unique: in the XIV–XVth centuries, we know of a family name Oungros in Byzantium (PLP 21151, 21152, 94361).

 

Epigraphic field 5

Position

In the middle. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 5

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="5">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><supplied reason="lost"><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName></supplied>, <supplied reason="lost">βοή</supplied>θη
      <lb n="2"/>τὸν <unclear>δο</unclear>ῦλόν σου Ἰοάνῃ
      <lb n="3"/>ἁμαρτολόν, ἀμήν.
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Lord, help your sinful servant Ioanes.

 

Epigraphic field 6

Position

Bands 2-3 of the taenia. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 6

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="6">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>, βοήθ<supplied reason="lost">ει</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">τὸν δοῦλόν</supplied>
      <lb n="2"/>σου Ἀντήοχ<supplied reason="lost">ον</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">καὶ</supplied>
      <lb n="3"/>ἑτέρους
      <lb n="4"/>τοὺς ἀγαπ<unclear>ῶ</unclear><supplied reason="lost">ντας</supplied>
      <lb n="5"/>πᾶσαν <expan><abbr>τὴ</abbr><ex>ν</ex></expan> <w part="I">τ<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/></w>.
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Lord, help your servant Antiochos and the others who love the whole...

 

Commentary

1–2. On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.E.a.

2. The name Antiochos (here Anteochos) is unique in the Northern Black Sea region, but is elsewhere known in Christian usage (Delehaye 1902, 1054).

3–5. Here we could probably expect some liturgical formula (such as "those who love Thine house's splendor").

 

Epigraphic field 7

Position

At the top. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 7

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="7">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>,
      βοήθι <gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>.
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Lord, help...

 

Commentary

On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.E.a.

 

Epigraphic field 8

Position

At the top. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 8

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="8">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><expan><abbr>Ἀντήοχ</abbr><ex>ος</ex></expan>.
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Antioch(os).

 

Commentary

See commentary to Text 6.

 

Fragment 2

Dimensions (cm)

H. 12.5, W. 6.0, Th. 4.0.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

1.0–2.0.

Text

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

[Κύριε, βο]ήθη.

Diplomatic

[........]ΗΘΗ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="2">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><supplied reason="lost"><roleName>Κύριε</roleName>,</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">βο</supplied>ήθη.
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

[Lord, he]lp.

 

Commentary

On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.E.a.

 

Images

Fragment 3

Dimensions (cm)

H. 13.5, W. 9.5, Th. 1.5.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field 1

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.5–1.0.

Text 1

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><supplied reason="lost">Γεώ</supplied>ργηε,
      <lb n="2"/><orig>ΗΡΓΗ</orig>
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

[Geo]rge...

 

Commentary

The use of the vocative suggests an invocation of St. George.

 

Images

Epigraphic field 2

Position

On the right face. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Text 2

Category

Commemoration. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Diplomatic

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><expan><abbr>Στέ</abbr><ex>φ</ex><abbr>α<supplied reason="lost">νος</supplied></abbr></expan>
      <lb n="2"/><gap reason="illegible" quantity="1" unit="character"/><orig>ΓΝ</orig>
      </ab>
      </div> 

Translation

Stepha[nos].

 

Fragment 4

Dimensions (cm)

H. 14.5, W. 12.5, Th. 5.5.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.4–0.7.

Text

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

ΙΩΟΣΤΗΡΗ.ΜΗ

Diplomatic

ΙΩΟΣΤΗΡΗ·ΜΗ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="4">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><orig>ΙΩΟΣΤΗΡΗ<gap reason="illegible" quantity="1" unit="character"/>ΜΗ</orig>
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

Images

Fragment 5

Dimensions (cm)

H. 11.5, W. 12.5, Th. 6.5.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.3–1.0.

Text

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

---ΧΕΩ---

Diplomatic

---ΧΕΩ---

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="5">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><gap reason="illegible" extent="unknown" unit="character"/><orig>ΧΕΩ</orig><gap reason="illegible" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

Images

Fragment 6

Dimensions (cm)

H. 10.0, W. 8.0, Th. 2.0.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.5–2.0.

Text

Category

Commemoration. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

Στέφα[νος].

Diplomatic

ΣΤΕΦΑ[...]

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="6">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/>Στέφα<supplied reason="lost">νος</supplied>.
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Stepha[nos].

 

Images

Fragment 7

Dimensions (cm)

H. 8.0, W. 8.5, Th. 4.0.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

1.0–2.0.

Text

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

ΚΥΡ
ΣΟΥ

Diplomatic

ΚΥΡ
ΣΟΥ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="7">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><orig>ΚΥΡ</orig>
      <lb n="2"/><orig>ΣΟΥ</orig>
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

Images

Fragment 8

Dimensions (cm)

H. 9.0, W. 9.0, Th. 3.5.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Text

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

ΓΟΜ
ΡΓΟ

Diplomatic

ΓΟΜ
ΡΓΟ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="8">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><orig>ΓΟΜ</orig>
      <lb n="2"/><orig>ΡΓΟ</orig>
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

Images

Fragment 9

Dimensions (cm)

H. 7.0, W. 9.5, Th. 3.5.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.7–1.0.

Text

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

ΓΕΝΕΤ

Diplomatic

ΓΕΝΕΤ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="9">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><orig>ΓΕΝΕΤ</orig>
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Born...

 

Images

Fragment 10

Dimensions (cm)

H. 11.0, W. 10.5, Th. 3.0.

Modern location

Yalta, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

Yalta Museum of History and Literature, no inventory number. 

Epigraphic field

Position

On the front. 

Lettering

See field 1. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.5–0.7.

Text

Category

Unknown. 

Date

XI–XIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

ΕΠΑ

Diplomatic

ΕΠΑ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="fragment" n="10">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/><orig>ΕΠΑ</orig>
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Not feasible.  

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.)