V 48. Cherson.Invocation of Nicholas, Nikandros and Nikon, 1202–1203 C.E.
Monument
Type
Base of cross.
Material
Spongy yellowish limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H.32.0, W.47.0, Th.16.0.
Additional description
Stone slab, its front cut in the shape of a semicircular niche, with a framing band in high relief (Depth 0.02m). There are traces of ochre inside the frame. Damaged on all sides except the bottom. The right of the back side is broken off. The front surface is worn and chipped.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Necropolis near the Extramural Cruciform Church, in front of Burial vault 2131, earth infill.
Find circumstances
1906, excavations of K.K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 80/36504.
Autopsy
May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007.
Epigraphic field
Position
Within a frame.
Lettering
Lapidary. Late minuscule beta, minuscule lambda and nu; abbreviations.
Letterheights (cm)
1.5–3.
Text
Category
Invocative inscription.
Date
1202–1203 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Latyshev1907, 38–39, № 21; 2. Vinogradov2009, 246–247.
<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><g ref="#stauros"/> <expan><abbr>Χ</abbr><ex>ριστ</ex><abbr>έ</abbr></expan>,
<expan><abbr>βοήθ</abbr><ex>ει</ex></expan>
Νι<supplied reason="lost">κ</supplied>όλ<supplied reason="lost">αον</supplied>
<supplied reason="lost">κα</supplied>ὶ
Νί<supplied reason="lost">καν</supplied><lb n="2" break="no"/>δρον καὶ
<supplied reason="lost">Ν</supplied>ίκον<supplied reason="lost">α</supplied>.
<gap reason="lost" quantity="3" unit="character"/> <date><num value="13">ιγ</num>.
<lb n="3"/><g ref="#stauros"/> <expan><abbr>Ἔτ</abbr><ex>ους</ex></expan>
<num value="6711">ςψια</num></date>.
</ab>
</div>Apparatus criticus
1: ιγ´: om.Latyshev
Translation
Christ, help Ni[colaos], Ni[kandros] and N[ikon].
Commentary
1. On the formula, see IV.3.E.a. Although the stone was found at the entrance to a burial vault, it is not a tombstone: the stone could have fallen in when Burial vault 2131 was dug up by robbers, and this scenario is the more likely because the stone is not preserved in full. It may well have been taken from the nearby Extramural Cruciform Church, and for some random reason, which we cannot guess.
The name Nicholas occurs in Cherson also in V 4, V 67, V 82.2, V 90.5.
2. Christian names Nikandros and Nikon are not otherwise known in Crimea. The combination of names suggests a group of monks. It is possible that a monastery associated with the Extramural Cruciform Church and mentioned in the Passion of Pope Martin I (VIIth centiury) continued to exist up to the early XIIIth century. In any case, is the last piece of evidence connected to this particular church.
2-3. The numeral 13 should be the day of the month (apparently, judging by the size of lacuna, expressed by a numeral: cf. V 60,V 89.3, V 151), since the year 6711 since Creation corresponds to the 13th, not the 6th indiction.
The shape of the monument is similar to that of V 45.
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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