V 305. Pantikapaion.Catacomb of Sauagas and Phaïsparta, 491–492 C.E.
Monument
Type
Wall.
Material
Light yellow clay.
Additional description
Catacomb of quasi-square shape with three couches in niches. Some letters have been lost.
Place of Origin
Pantikapaion.
Find place
Kerch.
Find context
Gospitalnaya Street, estate of Korobka, "Catacomb of 491".
Find circumstances
4 August 1890, excavations of Yu.A. Kulakovsky.
Modern location
In situ.
Institution and inventory
In situ, no inventory number.
Autopsy
Non vidi.
Epigraphic field 1
Position
Central wall of the left niche, to the right of the cross.
Lettering
Dipinto.
Text 1
Category
Epitaph.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, № 1; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, № 1; 1.2. Latyshev1896, 85–86, № 77; 1.3. Vinogradov1998, 240, № 5; 1.3.1. SEG 48, 996; 1.4. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.1.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Ἐν τῷ ἔτι
<lb n="2"/><num value="788">ηπψ</num>.
</ab>
</div>
Translation
In the year 788.
Commentary
On the circumstances of find and the design of the catacomb, see in detail: Kulakovsky 1891, 1–3. The photographs published here are preserved at the Photo Archive of the Institute for History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences (Q.550.1, Q.759.74–5; I–90982–3, 27125–7).
On the dating formula, compare V 342 — the ownership inscription of the same Sauagas.
Epigraphic field 2
Position
Right wall of the left niche, in corners between and below the cross.
Lettering
Dipinto.
Text 2
Category
Liturgical inscription.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, № 2; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, № 2; 1.2. Latyshev1896, 85–86, № 78; 1.3. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.2..
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Α Ω.
</ab>
<lg>
<l>
<lb n="2"/>Χαρὰ μεγάλη
γέ
<lb n="3" break="no"/>γονεν </l> <l> τῷ οἴκῳ τού<lb n="4" break="no"/>τῳ
σήμερον, </l>
<l>τ<lb n="5" break="no"/>ῶν ἁγίω<supplied reason="omitted">ν</supplied>
παρα<lb n="6" break="no"/>γενομένων, </l>
<l>τῶν
<lb n="7"/>δικέων συναλομέ<lb n="8" break="no"/>νων </l>
<l> καὶ τῶν <expan><abbr>πάντω</abbr><lb n="9" break="no"/><ex>ν</ex></expan>
ὑμνούτων σέ· </l>
<l><expan><abbr>ἐλέ</abbr><ex>η</ex><abbr>σ</abbr><ex>ον</ex></expan>.</l>
</lg>
</div>
Translation
Alpha, omega. A great joy happened in this house today, for the saints arrived, and the righteous rejoice, and everyone sings hymns to you: have mercy.
Commentary
1. On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.C.d.
2–9. This prayer is not otherwise attested (detailed analysis in Kulakovsky 1891, 12–13).
Epigraphic field 3
Position
Left, central and right (left half) wall of the central niche; left, central and right walls of the right niche. Style of the inscription: dipinto.
Lettering
Dipinto.
Text 3
Category
Liturgical inscription.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, № 3, 5; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, № 3, 5; 1.2. Latyshev1896, 85–86, № 79, 81; 1.3. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.3, 5.5.
μου εἶ καὶ καταφυγή μου, ὁ θεός μου, βοηθός μου, καὶ ἐλπιῶ ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, ὅτι αὐτὸς ῥύσεται ἐκ παγίδος θηρευ-
τῶν, ἀπὸ λόγου ταραχόδους. Ἐν τοῖς μεταφρένοις αὐτοῦ ἐπισκιάσι σοι, καὶ ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ ἐλπιεῖς·
ὅπλῳ κυκλώσι σαι {σε} ἡ ἀλήθια αὐτοῦ. Οὐ φοβηθήσει ἀπὸ φόβου νυκτερινοῦ, ἀπὸ βέλους πετομένου{ς} ἡμέρας,
5ἀπὸ πρά[γμα]τος ἐν σκότι διαπορευομένου, ἀπὸ συνπτώματος καὶ δημονίου μεσεμβρινοῦ. Πεσῖται ἐκ τοῦ κλίτου σου χιλιὰς καὶ μυριὰς
ἐκ δεξιο͂ν σου, πρὸς σὲ δὲ οὐκ ἐνγιεῖ· πλὴν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου κατανήσις καὶ ἀνταπόδοσιν ἁμαρτολῶν ὄψε. Ὅτι σύ, κύριε, ἡ ἐλ-
πίς μου· τὸ ὕψιστον ἔθου καταφυγή σου. Οὐ προσελεύσεται πρὸς σὲ κακά, καὶ μάστιξ οὐκ ἐνγιεῖ τῷ σκηνώματί σου, ὅτι
τοῖς ἀνγέλοις αὐτοῦ ἐντελῖται περὶ σοῦ τοῦ διαφυλάξαι σε ἐν πᾶσιν ταῖς ὁδοῖς σου· ἐπὶ χιρῶν
ἀροῦσίν σε, μέποτε προσκόψῃς πρὸς λίθον τὸν πόδα σου.
10Ἐπ᾿ ἀσπίδα καὶ βασιλίσκον ἐπιβήσει καὶ καταπατήσεις λέοντα καὶ δράκοντα. Ὅτι ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ ἤλπισεν, καὶ ῥύσομαι
αὐτόν· σκεπάσω αὐτόν, ὅτι ἔγνω τὸ ὄνομά μου. καικράξεται πρὸς μέ, καὶ ἐπακούσομε αὐτοῦ, μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰμι ἐν θλίψι, ἐξελοῦμε καὶ δοξάσω αὐτόν. Μακρότητα ἡμερῶν ἐνπλήσω αὐτὸν καὶ δίξω αὐτὸν τὸ σωτήριόν μου.
ΜΟΥΕΙΚΑΙΚΑΤΑΦΥΓΗΜΟΥΟΘΕΟΣΜΟΥΒΟΗΘΟΣΜΟΥΚΑΙΕΛΠΙΩΕΠ᾿ΑΥΤΟΝΟΤΙΑΥΤΟΣΡΥΣΕΤΑΙΕΚΠΑΓΙΔΟΣΘΗΡΕΥ
ΤΩΝΑΠΟΛΟΓΟΥΤΑΡΑΧΟΔΟΥΣΕΝΤΟΙΣΜΕΤΑΦΡΕΝΟΙΣΑΥΤΟΥΕΠΙΣΚΙΑΣΙΣΟΙΚΑΙΥΠΟΤΑΣΠΤΕΡΥΓΑΣΑΥΤΟΥΕΛΠΙΕΙΣ
ΟΠΛΩΚΥΚΛΩΣΙΣΑΙΣΕΗΑΛΗΘΙΑΑΥΤΟΥΟΥΦΟΒΗΘΗΣΕΙΑΠΟΦΟΒΟΥΝΥΚΤΕΡΙΝΟΥΑΠΟΒΕΛΟΥΣΠΕΤΟΜΕΝΟΥΣΗΜΕΡΑΣ
5ΑΠΟΠΡΑ[...]ΤΟΣΕΝΣΚΟΤΙΔΙΑΠΟΡΕΥΟΜΕΝΟΥΑΠΟΣΥΝΠΤΩΜΑΤΟΣΚΑΙΔΗΜΟΝΙΟΥΜΕΣΕΜΒΡΙΝΟΥΠΕΣΙΤΑΙΕΚΤΟΥΚΛΙΤΟΥΣΟΥΧΙΛΙΑΣΚΑΙΜΥΡΙΑΣ
ΕΚΔΕΞΙΟΝΣΟΥΠΡΟΣΣΕΔΕΟΥΚΕΝΓΙΕΙΠΛΗΝΤΟΙΣΟΦΘΑΛΜΟΙΣΣΟΥΚΑΤΑΝΗΣΙΣΚΑΙΑΝΤΑΠΟΔΟΣΙΝΑΜΑΡΤΟΛΩΝΟΨΕΟΤΙΣΥΚΥΡΙΕΗΕΛ
ΠΙΣΜΟΥΤΟΥΨΙΣΤΟΝΕΘΟΥΚΑΤΑΦΥΓΗΣΟΥΟΥΠΡΟΣΕΛΕΥΣΕΤΑΙΠΡΟΣΣΕΚΑΚΑΚΑΙΜΑΣΤΙΞΟΥΚΕΝΓΙΕΙΤΩΣΚΗΝΩΜΑΤΙΣΟΥΟΤΙ
ΤΟΙΣΑΝΓΕΛΟΙΣΑΥΤΟΥΕΝΤΕΛΙΤΑΙΠΕΡΙΣΟΥΤΟΥΔΙΑΦΥΛΑΞΑΙΣΕΕΝΠΑΣΙΝΤΑΙΣΟΔΟΙΣΣΟΥΕΠΙΧΙΡΩΝ
ΑΡΟΥΣΙΝΣΕΜΕΠΟΤΕΠΡΟΣΚΟΨΗΣΠΡΟΣΛΙΘΟΝΤΟΝΠΟΔΑΣΟΥ
10ΕΠ᾿ΑΣΠΙΔΑΚΑΙΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΚΟΝΕΠΙΒΗΣΕΙΚΑΙΚΑΤΑΠΑΤΗΣΕΙΣΛΕΟΝΤΑΚΑΙΔΡΑΚΟΝΤΑΟΤΙΕΠ᾿ΕΜΕΗΛΠΙΣΕΝΚΑΙΡΥΣΟΜΑΙ
ΑΥΤΟΝΣΚΕΠΑΣΩΑΥΤΟΝΟΤΙΕΓΝΩΤΟΟΝΟΜΑΜΟΥΚΑΙΚΡΑΞΕΤΑΙΠΡΟΣΜΕΚΑΙΕΠΑΚΟΥΣΟΜΕΑΥΤΟΥΜΕΤ᾿ΑΥΤΟΥΕΙΜΙΕΝΘΛΙΨΙΕΞΕΛΟΥΜΕΚΑΙΔΟΞΑΣΩΑΥΤΟΝΜΑΚΡΟΤΗΤΑΗΜΕΡΩΝΕΝΠΛΗΣΩΑΥΤΟΝΚΑΙΔΙΞΩΑΥΤΟΝΤΟΣΩΤΗΡΙΟΝΜΟΥ
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="3">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν
βοηθίᾳ τοῦ ὑψίστου
ἐν σκέπῃ τοῦ <roleName>θεοῦ</roleName>
τοῦ οὐρανοῦ αὐλισθήσεται.
Ἐρεῖ τῷ κυρίῳ·
Ἀντιλήμπτωρ
<lb n="2"/>μου εἶ καὶ
καταφυγή μου, ὁ <roleName>θεός</roleName>
μου, βοηθός μου, καὶ
ἐλπιῶ ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν,
ὅτι αὐτὸς ῥύσεται ἐκ
παγίδος θηρευ
<lb n="3" break="no"/>τῶν, ἀπὸ λόγου ταραχόδους.
Ἐν τοῖς μεταφρένοις
αὐτοῦ ἐπισκιάσι σοι,
καὶ ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας
αὐτοῦ ἐλπιεῖς·
<lb n="4"/>ὅπλῳ κυκλώσι σαι
<surplus>σε</surplus> ἡ ἀλήθια αὐτοῦ.
Οὐ φοβηθήσει ἀπὸ
φόβου νυκτερινοῦ, ἀπὸ
βέλους πετομένου<surplus>ς</surplus>
ἡμέρας,
<lb n="5"/>ἀπὸ πρά<supplied reason="lost">γμα</supplied>τος
ἐν σκότι
διαπορευομένου, ἀπὸ
συνπτώματος καὶ δημονίου
μεσεμβρινοῦ. Πεσῖται
ἐκ τοῦ κλίτου σου
χιλιὰς καὶ μυριὰς
<lb n="6"/>ἐκ δεξιο͂ν σου,
πρὸς σὲ δὲ οὐκ
ἐνγιεῖ· πλὴν τοῖς
ὀφθαλμοῖς σου κατανήσις
καὶ ἀνταπόδοσιν ἁμαρτολῶν
ὄψε. Ὅτι σύ, κύριε,
ἡ ἐλ
<lb n="7" break="no"/>πίς μου· τὸ
ὕψιστον ἔθου καταφυγή
σου. Οὐ προσελεύσεται
πρὸς σὲ κακά, καὶ
μάστιξ οὐκ ἐνγιεῖ
τῷ σκηνώματί σου,
ὅτι
<lb n="8"/>τοῖς ἀνγέλοις αὐτοῦ
ἐντελῖται περὶ σοῦ τοῦ
διαφυλάξαι σε ἐν
πᾶσιν ταῖς ὁδοῖς
σου· ἐπὶ χιρῶν
<lb n="9"/>ἀροῦσίν σε, μέποτε προσκόψῃς
πρὸς λίθον τὸν πόδα
σου.
<lb n="10"/>Ἐπ᾿ ἀσπίδα καὶ
βασιλίσκον ἐπιβήσει καὶ
καταπατήσεις λέοντα καὶ
δράκοντα. Ὅτι ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ
ἤλπισεν, καὶ ῥύσομαι
<lb n="11"/>αὐτόν· σκεπάσω αὐτόν,
ὅτι ἔγνω τὸ ὄνομά
μου. καικράξεται πρὸς μέ,
καὶ ἐπακούσομε αὐτοῦ, μετ᾿
αὐτοῦ εἰμι ἐν
θλίψι, ἐξελοῦμε καὶ δοξάσω
αὐτόν. Μακρότητα ἡμερῶν
ἐνπλήσω αὐτὸν καὶ
δίξω αὐτὸν τὸ σωτήριόν
μου.
</ab>
</div>
Translation
He that dwells in the help of the Highest, shall sojourn under the shelter of the God of heaven. He shall say to the Lord, Thou art my helper and my refuge: my God; I will hope in him. For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters, from every troublesome matter. He shall overshadow thee with his shoulders, and thou shalt trust under his wings: his truth shall cover thee with a shield. Thou shalt not be afraid of terror by night; nor of the arrow flying by day; nor of the evil thing that walks in darkness; nor of calamity, and the evil spirit at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou observe and see the reward of sinners. For thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou, my soul, hast made the Most High thy refuge. No evils shall come upon thee, and no scourge shall draw night to thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up on their hands, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread on the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample on the lion and dragon. For he has hoped in me, and I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will hearken to him: I am with him in affliction; and I will deliver him, and glorify him. I will satisfy him with length of days, and shew him my salvation.
Commentary
Ps 90 (in the Hebrew Bible — 91) is divided into two parts: verses 1–12 and 13–16. In Christian inscriptions, varying numners of verses from Ps 90 are cited: from one verse (IGLS 1488 (Apamea, 473 C.E.)) to the full text (see Feissel 1984, 571–579). On the connection of Ps 90 with the threefold invocation of the Holy one (Text 4), see Heinen 1982, 679–681.
Epigraphic field 4
Position
Right half of the right wall of the central niche.
Lettering
Dipinto.
Text 4
Category
Epitaph.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, № 4; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, № 4; 1.2. Latyshev1896, 85–86, № 80; 1.3. Vinogradov1998, 240, № 5; 1.3.1. SEG 48, 996; 1.4. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.4..
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="4">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Ἅγιος ὁ <roleName>θεός</roleName>,
<lb n="2"/>ἅγι<surplus>ει</surplus>ος εἰσχυρός,
<lb n="3"/>ἅγι<surplus>ει</surplus>ος ἀθάνα<lb n="4" break="no"/>τος, ἐλέησον
<lb n="5"/>τὸν δοῦλόν σου
<lb n="6"/>Σαυαγαν
<lb n="7"/>καὶ Φαεισπαρταν.
</ab>
</div>
Translation
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy for your servants Sauagas and Phaïsparta.
Commentary
This is an extended version of Triagion - a threefold invocation of the Holy One. The latter is epigraphically attested in 3 forms: (a) canonical (Grégoire 1929, № 114 (Ephesos, Vth century) = Ephesos, № 1359 (Miletos, 538 C.E., building), Ephesos 1369; IGLS II 317A (Chalkidiki, 563–4 C.E.), 357 (Antiochaea, 573 C.E.), 1474 (Apamea), 2529 (Emesena)), (b) theopashite — with words σταυρωθεὶς δι᾿ ἡμᾶς before ἐλέησον added by the Antiochaean patriarch Peter Fullo (attested only in Syria and Egypt: IGLS II 289 (Chalkidiki, 546–7 C.E.), 357 (Antiochaea, 573 C.E.), 500 (Antiochaea, 592 C.E.), 633 (Antiochaea), 1726 (Apamea, 563 г.), 1847 (Apamea); Sammelbuch 7564)) and (c) compromise (where σταυρωθεὶς is replaced with ὑπαχθείς: IGLS V 2528 (Emesena). Abbreviated variants are also known in inscriptions: without "have mercy for us" (IGLS I 338) and also simply ἅγιος ὁ θεός (Bandy 1970, № 24 (VIth century?), 52 (VI–VIIIth century), Feissel 1983, № 281 (V–VIth century, tombstone)). I was not able to find an exact parallel for the usage of our text: where personal names of the deceased replace ἡμᾶς. It is possible that the innovation has to do with the funerary nature of the inscription, since all other instances of the threefold invocation are in dedications of buidings (except the inscription from Macedonia, where the formula is abbreviated). It is noteworthy that the theopashite version is attested for the first time in the mid-VIth century, that is, half a century later than in the catacomb of Sauagas.
The name Phaïsparta (here Phaeisparta), as the formula shows, was added later.
Epigraphic field 5
Position
Wall with the entrance, above the door. Style of the inscription: dipinto.
Lettering
Dipinto.
Text 5
Category
Liturgical inscription.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, 4–23, табл. II–IV, В; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, 49–87, 309–327; 1.2. Latyshev1896, 85–86, № 77–83; 1.3. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.6..
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="5">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName>Κύριος</roleName> φυλάξι σε ἀπὸ πα<supplied reason="lost">ν</supplied>τὸς
<lb n="2"/>κακοῦ, φυλάξι τὴν ψυχήν σου
<lb n="3"/>ὁ κύρ<supplied reason="lost">ι</supplied>ος. <roleName>Κύριος</roleName> φυλά<supplied reason="lost">ξει</supplied> τὴν εἴσοδόν σου
<lb n="4"/>καὶ τὴν ἔξοδόν σου
<lb n="5"/>ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ αἵος τοῦ αἰ<lb n="6" break="no"/>ῶνος.
</ab>
</div>
Translation
Lord shall safeguard you from every evil, shall protect your soul, the Lord. Lord shall safeguard your coming and your going, from now and forever.
Commentary
Ps 120, 7–8. In Christian epigraphy, Ps 120, 8 is most often inscribed next to a church entrance (e.g., LBW V 1814c; 22 times in IGLS). Verses 7-8 together (verse 7 is not attested alone) are known to us only from two inscriptions in Asia Minor: MAMA VIII 256 (Lykaonia) and SEG 12.458 (Tekir in Caria).
Epigraphic field 6
Position
Cornice above the left niche; cornice above the right niche.
Lettering
Dipinto.
Text 6
Category
Epitaph.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, № 7–8; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, № 7–8; 1.2. Latyshev1896, 85–86, № 82; 1.3. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.7–8.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="6">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName>Κύριος</roleName> φωτισμός
μου καὶ σωτήρ μου· τίνα
φοβε<supplied reason="lost">θήσομαι</supplied>;
<lb n="2"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύριο</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan></roleName>
ὑπερασπιστὴς τῆς ζωῆς μου· ἀπὸ
τίνος διλιάσω;
</ab>
</div>
Translation
Lord is my illumination and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Lord is the protector of my life. Whom shall I dread?
Commentary
Ps 26, 1–2 is attested only in MAMA VI 385 (Premnessos in Phrygia). In liturgy, it is used as a prokeimenon at the blessing of water and in some other rites.
Epigraphic field 7
Position
Wall with the entrance, exterior, above the entrance on the left.
Lettering
Graffito.
Text 7
Category
Epitaph.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, № 10; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, № 10; 1.2. Latyshev1896, 85–86, № 83; 1.3. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.9.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="7">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύριο</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan></roleName>
<supplied reason="lost">ἀντιλήμπτωρ</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">τῆς</supplied>
<supplied reason="lost">ψυ</supplied>χ<unclear>ῆ</unclear>ς μου.
</ab>
</div>
Apparatus criticus
1: Κ(ύρι)ε [εἰσάκουσον τῆς εὐ]χῆς μουKulakovsky,Latyshev
Translation
Lord is the protector of my soul.
Commentary
The inscription was published without an image. Ps 53, 6 is not attested epigraphically, but semantically it goes better with Text 6.
Epigraphic field 8
Position
Cornice above the central niche.
Lettering
Dipinto.
Text 8
Category
Epitaph.
Date
491–492 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Kulakovsky1891, № 8; 1.1. Kulakovsky1894, № 8; 1.2. Vinogradov2007, 259, № 5.10.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="8">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><orig>Α Β Γ Δ</orig>
<lb n="2"/><orig>Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ</orig>
</ab>
</div>
Translation
Alpha, beta, gamma, delta. Alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta.
Commentary
The inscription was published withhout an image.
Most likely, these are scribal excercises. The beginning of an alphabet is attested in several Christian inscriptions (see, e.g., Grégoire 1929, № 227 (Latmos: Α-Η), ICUR 7268 (catacmb of Domicilla, Α-Ι)). At the same time, the alphabet here could be used symbolically (see Dornseiff 1925).
The palaeography and orthography are discussed in detail by Kylakovsky 1891, 14–16. On the historical context, see Vinogradov 1998, 233–247.
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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