V 69. Cherson.Epitaph of Jonas, X–XIIth centuries C.E.
Monument
Type
Stele.
Material
Sarmatian stage limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H.31.0, W.39.5, Th.16.0.
Additional description
On the front - carved circle, crossed by slanting lines, and interlace design. Chipped all over.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Necropolis by the Extramural Cruciform Church, Burial vault 2131, near the entrance.
Find circumstances
1906, excavations of K.K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 85/36504.
Autopsy
May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007.
Epigraphic field
Position
Below the circle.
Lettering
Lapidary; uneven angular letters. Looped alpha, beta with enlarged bottom loop, И-shaped eta.
Letterheights (cm)
1.3–2.0.
Text
Category
Epitaph.
Date
X–XIIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
L1. Vinogradov2009, 244-245.
<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><supplied reason="lost"><expan><abbr>Ἰω</abbr><ex>άννης</ex></expan>
<note>e.g.</note> </supplied><supplied reason="lost">ἀ</supplied>νέβαλε· ἐκυμήθυ Υ̓ωνᾶς.
</ab>
</div>Translation
[Io(annes)?] dug out. Jonas fell asleep.
Commentary
The circle with a cross (inscribed criss cross within) was carved with triangular chisel, while additional ornamentation and inscription were incised with a sharp object. It is possible that the person who cut the inscription was reusing a tombstone that did not have one: this hypothesis was kindly shared with us by D.Yu. Korobkov.
The formula of the first half of the inscription is unparalleled and awkward, which goes with the generally poor quality of the monument. On the second formula, see Introduction IV.3.F.e. At the start of the text there is room for 2-3 letters, perhaps a name. The name Jonas occurs in V 202; also, at the end of the IXth century, this was the name of a father of the Chersonian strategos Simeon (Theophanes Continuatus. Chronographia, VI, 10).
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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