V 62. Cherson.Epitaph of Anastasios, Mary and Thais, VIth century C.E.
Monument
Type
Panel.
Material
Local limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H.67.0, W.31.0, Th.18.0.
Additional description
Panel in the shape of Latin cross with widening arms and rectangular projection at the top. Chipped at the bottom; weathered surface.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Necropolis by the Quarantine Bay, Burial vault 2281.
Find circumstances
1907, excavations of K.K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Ukraine.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 4144.
Autopsy
Май 1999, август 2001, сентябрь 2002, сентябрь 2003, сентябрь 2004, сентябрь 2005, сентябрь 2006, сентябрь 2007.
Epigraphic field 1
Position
Left and right arm of the cross.
Lettering
Lapidary. Alpha with broken crossbar.
Letterheights (cm)
1.5–2.0.
Text 1
Category
Demonstrative.
Date
VIth century C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Α <unclear>Ω</unclear>.
</ab>
</div>Translation
Alpha, omega.
Commentary
The monument was found in the earth infill of a burial vault (Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich 1911, 52). We are dealing with a family burial: apparently the wife and relatives of the man who set up the tombstone were buried there.
On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.C.d.
On tombstones in the shape of a cross, see commentary to V 61. An addition of "servant of God," instead of the typical "your servant" is attested only in an Attic inscription - IG III, 3536.
Images
Epigraphic field 2
Position
The intersection, and all arms of the cross except the bottom.
Lettering
Lapidary. Alpha with broken crossbar, lunate epsilon and sigma, У-shaped and V-shaped upsilon.
Letterheights (cm)
1.5–2.0.
Text 2
Category
Epitaph.
Date
VIth century C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
L1. Latyshev1908, 28–29, № 22.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName>Κύριε</roleName>,
ἀνάπαυσο<supplied reason="lost">ν</supplied>
<lb n="2"/><supplied reason="lost">τὸν</supplied> δοῦλον
τοῦ
<roleName><expan><abbr>θ</abbr><ex>εο</ex><abbr><supplied reason="lost">ῦ</supplied></abbr></expan></roleName>
<lb n="3"/>Ἀ<unclear>ν</unclear>αστασίου,
<lb n="4"/><supplied reason="lost">Μ</supplied><unclear>α</unclear>ρήας
<unclear>κ</unclear>αὶ
<lb n="5"/><supplied reason="lost">Θ</supplied><unclear>α</unclear><supplied reason="lost">ΐ</supplied>δος,
τῖς Συ<unclear>μ</unclear><lb n="6" break="no"/>όνου συ<unclear>μβ</unclear>ήου,
τοῦ.
</ab>
</div>Apparatus criticus
2: δούλον ΣουLatyshev
3: ἈναστάσιονLatyshev
4-6: ....ας.η....ὅστις.......συ[νβ]ήου...Latyshev
Translation
Lord, grant rest to the servant of God Anastasios, to Mary, and to Thais, the wife of Simon.
Commentary
1–2. On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.F.b.
3-6. The names take their genitive form (instead of accusative) probably under the influence of the preceding θεοῦ. The name Anastasios is securely attested in the Christian calendar (Delehaye 1902, 161, 281, 413; 56), as well as Christian names Simon (see commentary to V 206) and Mary (V 227 and V 235), which are also known in the Byzantine epigraphy of the Northern Black Sea region. The name Thais is attested in Christian epigraphy only once, in Syracuse (Ferrua 1941, 235, № 129).
6. The text is apparently unfinished.
The script of our inscription is close to that of V 60, and alpha in Text 1 bears affinity to V 60. On tombstones in the shape of a cross, see commentary to V 61.
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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