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. Latyshev 1906a, 124–125, № 39; 1.1. Latyshev 1907, 65. 

Edition

+ Κ(ύρι)ε, βοή-
θ[ει] τὼ[ν] δοῦ-
λ[ό]ν σου Γεώ-
ργη̣ν Μαμσυ.

Diplomatic

+ΚΕΒΟΗ
Θ[..]ΤΩ[.]ΔΟΥ
Λ[.]ΝΣΟΥΓΕΩ
ΡΓ.ΝΜΑΜΣΥ

EpiDoc (XML)

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   <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 Latyshev 1907

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

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