V 306. Pantikapaion. Epitaph of an unknown, late Vth century C.E.

Monument

Type

Walls. 

Material

Clay. 

Additional description

Catacomb of quasi-square form with three couches in niches. Fully preserved. 

Place of Origin

Pantikapaion. 

Find place

Kerch. 

Find context

Gospitalnaya Street, estate of Karnoukh. 

Find circumstances

1895, predatory excavations. 

Modern location

In situ. 

Institution and inventory

In situ, no inventory number. 

Autopsy

Non vidi. 

Epigraphic field 1

Position

Left, middle and right walls of the left niche; left, middle and right walls of the central niche; left, middle and right walls of the right niche. 

Lettering

Dipinto. 

Text 1

Category

Epitaph. 

Date

Late Vth century C.E. 

Dating criteria

General appearance. 

Editions

L1. Kulakovsky 1896a, 61–67, № 1. 

Edition

Ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν βοηθίᾳ τοῦ ὑψίστου ἐν σκέ[πῃ]
τοῦ θ(εο)ῦ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ αὐλισθήσεται. Ἐρεῖ τῷ κ(υρί)ῳ· Ἀντιλήπτωρ μου εἶ καὶ κατα[φ]υ̣γ̣ή μου,
ὁ θ(εό)ς μου, ἐλπιῶ ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, ὅτι ῥύσ̣ε̣τέ με ἐκ παγίδος θηρευτῶν καὶ ἀπὸ λόγου ταραχώδους.
ἐν τοῖς μεταφρένοις αὐτοῦ ἐπισκιάσι σε, καὶ ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ ἐλπιεῖς· ὅπλῳ κυκλώσι σε {σε}
5ἡ ἀλήθια αὐτοῦ. Οὐ φοβηθήσῃ ἀπὸ φόβου νυκτερι[νοῦ],
καὶ ἀπὸ βέλους πετομένου ἡμέρας,
ἀπὸ πράγματος ἐν σκότι διαπορευομένου, ἀπὸ συνπτώματος καὶ δημονίου <μεσημβρινοῦ>.
Πεσῖτε ἐκ τοῦ κλίτου σου χιλιὰς καὶ μυριὰς ἐ[κ] δεξιῶν σου, [πρὸς σ]ὲ δὲ οὐκ ἐνγιεῖ· πλὴν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου
κατανοήσις καὶ ἀνταπόδοσιν ἁμαρτο[λῶν ὄψῃ], [ὅτ]ι σύ, κύριε, ἡ ἐλπί[ς μου]· τὸν ὕψιστον ἔθου καταφυγή σου. Οὐ
10προσελεύσεται πρὸς [σ]ὲ̣ κακά, καὶ μάστιξ ο[ὐκ ἐνγιεῖ ἐ]ν τῷ σκηνώματί σου, ὅτι τοῖς ἀνγέλοις αὐτοῦ ἐντελῖται
περὶ σοῦ τοῦ διαφυλάξε σε ἐν πάσαις τοῖς ὁδοῖς [σο]υ·
[ἐπὶ χειρῶ]ν ἀροῦσίν σε, μήποτε προσκόψῃς πρὸς λίθον τὸν πόδα σου· [ἐπ᾿ ἀσπίδα]
[καὶ βασιλ]ίσκον ἐπιβή[σῃ καὶ κατ]απατήσις λέοντα καὶ δράκοντα. Ὄτ[ι ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ]
[ἤλπισεν], καὶ ῥύσομ[αι αὐτόν]· [σκεπ]άσω αὐτόν, ὅτι ἔγνω τὸ ὄνομά μ[ου]. Κεκρά-
15ξεταί [πρὸς] με, καὶ ἐ[πακούσομαι] αὐτοῦ, [με]τ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰμι ἐν θλίψι, ἐξελ[οῦμαι] αὐτόν
[καὶ δοξά]σω αὐτ[όν]. [Μακρότητα ἡ]μερῶν ἐνπλήσω αὐτὸν
[καὶ δείξω] αὐτὸν τ[ὸ] σωτήριόν μου.

7: orig. ΜΕΧΕΜΒΡΙΝΟΥ

Diplomatic

ΟΚΑΤΟΙΚΩΝΕΝΒΟΗΘΙΑΤΟΥΥΨΙΣΤΟΥΕΝΣΚΕ[..]
ΤΟΥΘΥΤΟΥΟΥΡΑΝΟΥΑΥΛΙΣΘΗΣΕΤΑΙΕΡΕΙΤΩΚΩΑΝΤΙΛΗΠΤΩΡΜΟΥΕΙΚΑΙΚΑΤΑ[.]..ΗΜΟΥ
ΟΘΣΜΟΥΕΛΠΙΩΕΠ᾿ΑΥΤΟΝΟΤΙΡΥ..ΤΕΜΕΕΚΠΑΓΙΔΟΣΘΗΡΕΥΤΩΝΚΑΙΑΠΟΛΟΓΟΥΤΑΡΑΧΩΔΟΥΣ
ΕΝΤΟΙΣΜΕΤΑΦΡΕΝΟΙΣΑΥΤΟΥΕΠΙΣΚΙΑΣΙΣΕΚΑΙΥΠΟΤΑΣΠΤΕΡΥΓΑΣΑΥΤΟΥΕΛΠΙΕΙΣΟΠΛΩΚΥΚΛΩΣΙΣΕΣΕ
5ΗΑΛΗΘΙΑΑΥΤΟΥΟΥΦΟΒΗΘΗΣΗΑΠΟΦΟΒΟΥΝΥΚΤΕΡΙ[...]
ΚΑΙΑΠΟΒΕΛΟΥΣΠΕΤΟΜΕΝΟΥΗΜΕΡΑΣ
ΑΠΟΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΟΣΕΝΣΚΟΤΙΔΙΑΠΟΡΕΥΟΜΕΝΟΥΑΠΟΣΥΝΠΤΩΜΑΤΟΣΚΑΙΔΗΜΟΝΙΟΥΜΕΧΕΜΒΡΙΝΟΥ
ΠΕΣΙΤΕΕΚΤΟΥΚΛΙΤΟΥΣΟΥΧΙΛΙΑΣΚΑΙΜΥΡΙΑΣΕ[.]ΔΕΞΙΩΝΣΟΥ[.....]ΕΔΕΟΥΚΕΝΓΙΕΙΠΛΗΝΤΟΙΣΟΦΘΑΛΜΟΙΣΣΟΥ
ΚΑΤΑΝΟΗΣΙΣΚΑΙΑΝΤΑΠΟΔΟΣΙΝΑΜΑΡΤΟ[........]ΙΣΥΚΥΡΙΕΗΕΛΠΙ[....]ΤΟΝΥΨΙΣΤΟΝΕΘΟΥΚΑΤΑΦΥΓΗΣΟΥΟΥ
10ΠΡΟΣΕΛΕΥΣΕΤΑΙΠΡΟΣ[.].ΚΑΚΑΚΑΙΜΑΣΤΙΞΟ[.........]ΝΤΩΣΚΗΝΩΜΑΤΙΣΟΥΟΤΙΤΟΙΣΑΝΓΕΛΟΙΣΑΥΤΟΥΕΝΤΕΛΙΤΑΙ
ΠΕΡΙΣΟΥΤΟΥΔΙΑΦΥΛΑΞΕΣΕΕΝΠΑΣΑΙΣΤΟΙΣΟΔΟΙΣ[..]Υ
[........]ΝΑΡΟΥΣΙΝΣΕΜΗΠΟΤΕΠΡΟΣΚΟΨΗΣΠΡΟΣΛΙΘΟΝΤΟΝΠΟΔΑΣΟΥ[.........]
[........]ΙΣΚΟΝΕΠΙΒΗ[........]ΑΠΑΤΗΣΙΣΛΕΟΝΤΑΚΑΙΔΡΑΚΟΝΤΑΟΤ[.......]
[.......]ΚΑΙΡΥΣΟΜ[...........]ΑΣΩΑΥΤΟΝΟΤΙΕΓΝΩΤΟΟΝΟΜΑΜ[..]ΚΕΚΡΑ
15ΞΕΤΑΙ[....]ΜΕΚΑΙΕ[..........]ΑΥΤΟΥ[..]Τ᾿ΑΥΤΟΥΕΙΜΙΕΝΘΛΙΨΙΕΞΕΛ[.....]ΑΥΤΟΝ
[.......]ΣΩΑΥΤ[............]ΜΕΡΩΝΕΝΠΛΗΣΩΑΥΤΟΝ
[........]ΑΥΤΟΝΤ[.]ΣΩΤΗΡΙΟΝΜΟΥ

7: orig. ΜΕΧΕΜΒΡΙΝΟΥ

EpiDoc (XML)

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      <div type="textpart" subtype="column">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/>Ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν βοηθίᾳ τοῦ 
      ὑψίστου ἐν σκέ<supplied reason="lost">πῃ</supplied>
      <lb n="2"/>τοῦ <roleName><expan><abbr>θ</abbr><ex>εο</ex><abbr>ῦ</abbr></expan></roleName> τοῦ 
      οὐρανοῦ αὐλισθήσεται. 
      Ἐρεῖ τῷ <expan><abbr>κ</abbr><ex>υρί</ex><abbr>ῳ</abbr></expan>· 
      Ἀντιλήπτωρ μου εἶ καὶ 
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      <lb n="3"/>ὁ <roleName><expan><abbr>θ</abbr><ex>εό</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan></roleName> μου, 
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      θηρευτῶν καὶ ἀπὸ λόγου ταραχώδους.
      <lb n="4"/>ἐν τοῖς μεταφρένοις αὐτοῦ 
      ἐπισκιάσι σε, καὶ ὑπὸ τὰς 
      πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ ἐλπιεῖς· ὅπλῳ 
      κυκλώσι σε <surplus>σε</surplus>
      <lb n="5"/>ἡ ἀλήθια αὐτοῦ. Οὐ 
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      δημονίου <choice><corr>με<corr>σ</corr>ημβρινοῦ</corr><sic>ΜΕΧΕΜΒΡΙΝΟΥ</sic></choice>.
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      <supplied reason="lost">ἐνγιεῖ</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">ἐ</supplied>ν τῷ 
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      <lb n="11"/>περὶ σοῦ τοῦ διαφυλάξε σε 
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      <lb n="12"/><supplied reason="lost">ἐπὶ</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">χειρῶ</supplied>ν 
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      λίθον τὸν πόδα σου· 
      <supplied reason="lost">ἐπ᾿</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">ἀσπίδα</supplied>
      <lb n="13"/><supplied reason="lost">καὶ</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">βασιλ</supplied>ίσκον 
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      <supplied reason="lost">ἐμὲ</supplied>
      <lb n="14"/><supplied reason="lost">ἤλπισεν</supplied>, καὶ 
      ῥύσομ<supplied reason="lost">αι</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">αὐτόν</supplied>· 
      <supplied reason="lost">σκεπ</supplied>άσω αὐτόν, ὅτι ἔγνω 
      τὸ ὄνομά μ<supplied reason="lost">ου</supplied>. 
      Κεκρά<lb n="15" break="no"/>ξεταί <supplied reason="lost">πρὸς</supplied> με, 
      καὶ ἐ<supplied reason="lost">πακούσομαι</supplied> αὐτοῦ, 
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      <lb n="16"/><supplied reason="lost">καὶ</supplied> <supplied reason="lost">δοξά</supplied>σω 
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      αὐτὸν τ<supplied reason="lost">ὸ</supplied> σωτήριόν μου.
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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

See commentary to Text 2.

 

Epigraphic field 2

Position

Top of the middle wall of the central niche. 

Lettering

Dipinto. 

Text 2

Category

Epitaph. 

Date

Late Vth century C.E.  

Dating criteria

General appearance. 

Editions

L1. Kulakovsky 1896a, 61–67, № 2. 

Edition

Ἅγιος ὁ θ(εό)ς, ἅγιος ἰσχυρός,
ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.

Diplomatic

ΑΓΙΟΣΟΘΣΑΓΙΟΣΙΣΧΥΡΟΣ
ΑΓΙΟΣΑΘΑΝΑΤΟΣΕΛΕΗΣΟΝΗΜΑΣ

EpiDoc (XML)

<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
      <ab>
      <lb n="1"/>Ἅγιος ὁ <roleName><expan><abbr>θ</abbr><ex>εό</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan></roleName>, 
      ἅγιος ἰσχυρός,
      <lb n="2"/>ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.
      </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy for us.

 

Commentary

For a detailed analysis of the monument (including palaeography), see Kulakovsky, as well as commentary to V 305. There as here we find Ps 90 and a threefold invocation of the Holy One, although in canonical form. Overall, this catacomb is so similar to the "Catacmb of 491 C.E." (V 305) both in its location and its physical characteristics that it would not be out of the question to suggest that the two may have been made by the same craftsmen, and therefore that they may date to about the same time.

On the conflation of epsilon and eta in Text 2 (line 1), see commentary to V 61.

Judging by the find of wooden coffins, the absence of the name of the buried person(s) should not lead us to the conclusion that nobody had been buried here. It is unclear whether we should consider the simple decoration of this catacomb as the sign of its earlier date compared to the more complex decoration of the "Catacomb of 491." At the least, the deceased must have been a person of high standing, similar in rank to Sauagas from the nearby catacomb.

 

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