V 55. Cherson. Invocation of an unknown, XII–XIIIth centuries C.E.

Monument

Type

Architectural detail (a window jamb?). 

Material

Limestone. 

Dimensions (cm)

H. 34.0, W. 11.5, Th. 35.5.

Additional description

A cut-out (W 2, D 2) on the left hand side. Broken into two parts; broken off on the right and bottom. 

Place of Origin

Cherson. 

Find place

Unknown. 

Find context

Unknown. 

Find circumstances

Unknown. 

Modern location

Sevastopol, Crimea. 

Institution and inventory

National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 105/36504. 

Autopsy

May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007. 

Epigraphic field

Position

Below. 

Lettering

Lapidary. Minuscule letters. Ligature: mu-eta. 

Letterheights (cm)

0.5–2.2.

Text

Category

Invocative inscription. 

Date

XII–XIIIth centuries C.E. 

Dating criteria

Palaeography. 

Editions

Unpublished. 

Edition

+ Κ(ύρι)ε,
ἵμαρτο̣[ν],
τὰ δὲ κ-
ακ<ὰ> μὴ π̣[α-]
5ροργυ[ῇ]
σε.

4: orig. Κ ΑΚΥ

Diplomatic

+ΚΕ
ΙΜΑΡΤ.[.]
ΤΑΔΕΚ
ΑΚΥΜΗ.[.-]
5ΡΟΡΓΥ[.]
ΣΕ

4: orig. Κ ΑΚΥ

EpiDoc (XML)

<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>,
      <lb n="2"/>ἵμαρτ<unclear>ο</unclear><supplied reason="lost">ν</supplied>,
      <lb n="3"/>τὰ δὲ κ
      <lb n="4" break="no"/>ακ<choice><corr>ὰ</corr><sic>υ</sic></choice> μὴ <unclear>π</unclear><supplied reason="lost">α</supplied>
      <lb n="5" break="no"/>ροργυ<supplied reason="lost">ῇ</supplied>
      <lb n="6"/>σε.
   </ab>
   </div> 

Translation

Lord, I have sinned, but may these misdeeds not draw your anger.

 

Commentary

This graffito apparently represents a confessional appeal to God for mercy (cf. V 62, inscription 14). The formula might have a distant parallel in IСUR III, 1467, and might have its origin in Psalm 40 verse 5.

 

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.)