V 45. Cherson.Invocation of Georgios, IX-Х centuries C.E.
Monument
Type
Stele.
Material
Limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H.63.0, W.38.0, Th.15.0.
Additional description
Stele in the shape of a disc resting on a two-level pedestal. The front side of the disc is carved with a bas-relief of a cross (with arms flaring out) encircled by a frame carved in high relief along the circumference of the disc. Split into two parts, chipped along the edges of the disc and on the front surface.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Necropolis by the Quarantine Bay, Burial vault 1662, over the bones.
Find circumstances
1905, excavations of K.K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 34912.
Autopsy
May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007.
Epigraphic field
Position
In a semicircular niche carved below the disc in the top level of the pedestal.
Lettering
Lapidary. Alpha with broken crossbar; Y-shaped and У-shaped upsilon.
Letterheights (cm)
1.0–2.0.
Text
Category
Invocative inscription.
Date
IX-Х centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography, onomastics.
Editions
L1. Latyshev1906a, 124–125, № 39; 1.1. Latyshev1907, 65.
<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><g ref="#stauros"/>
<roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>,
βοή<lb n="2" break="no"/>θ<supplied reason="lost">ει</supplied>
τὼ<supplied reason="lost">ν</supplied> δοῦ <lb n="3" break="no"/>λ<supplied reason="lost">ό</supplied>ν σου
Γεώ<lb n="4" break="no"/>ργ<unclear>η</unclear>ν
Μαμσυ.
</ab>
</div>Apparatus criticus
3-4: Γεώργ(ιο)ν Μαμσῦ (?)Latyshev; Μανασῦ Papadopoulo-Kerameus apud Latyshev1907
Translation
O Lord, help your servant Georgios Mamsy.
Commentary
1-3. On the formula, see IV.3.E.a.
3-4. On the name, see commentary to V 64. The name Mamsy, which is probably a family name, has no parallels (cf., however, V 247).
The closest analogy for our monument, as far as its shape is concerned, is V 36, and as well as another monument from Cherson (Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich 1902, 65, drawing 13). Lettershapes (first and foremost, alpha with broken crossbar - last used in V 66, 915 C.E.) indicate the date in the period between the VIth and Xth centuries, although the fact of the family points to the Middle Byzantine period.
Although the inscription was found in a burial vault, it is not funerary: firstly, the inscription was moved to the tomb later, it was not set up there originally; secondly, the burial goods date to the IInd-IVth century (Sorochan 2005, 1048, n. 41). The inscription most likely was moved into the burial vault from a nearby "citadel" where we find a church that dates to the early Xth century (Sorochan, 998-999).
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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