V 93. Cherson.Demonstrative inscription, Xth century C.E.
Monument
Type
Lid.
Material
White fine-grained marble.
Dimensions (cm)
H.5.0, Diam.20.0-25.0.
Additional description
Circular lid of a vessel. On the top side is a relief cross (H. 0.4cm) in the centre, and relief border along the edge (0.75cm). On the underside there is a concavity with a border. Broken along radial lines, leaving a segment of approximately 90 degrees.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
North, Block XXV, near the apse of a chapel, outside, layer 2.
Find circumstances
1932, excavations of G.D. Belov.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 25/35546.
Autopsy
May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007.
Epigraphic field 1
Position
In corners between the arms of the cross.
Lettering
Lapidary, bouletée. Alpha with a loop, delta with projecting right hasta. Ligature nu-eta.
Letterheights (cm)
2.2–3.3.
Text 1
Category
Demonstrative.
Date
Xth century C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><supplied reason="lost"><expan><abbr>Ἰ</abbr><ex>ησοῦ</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan>
<expan><abbr>Χ</abbr><ex>ριστὸ</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan></supplied>
<lb n="2"/>νη<supplied reason="lost">κᾷ</supplied>.
</ab>
</div>Translation
Jesus Christ is victorious.
Commentary
On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.C.e.
Epigraphic field 2
Position
Along the edge.
Text 2
Category
Liturgical (?) inscription.
Date
Xth century C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
<supplied reason="lost">τ</supplied><unclear>ῆ</unclear>ς
<expan><abbr>δόξ</abbr><ex>ης</ex></expan>
κ<unclear>α</unclear><supplied reason="lost">ὶ</supplied>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
</ab>
</div>Translation
... of glory and...
Commentary
Apparently, Text 2 contained some liturgical formula. In order to fit it onto the surface, the cutter was forced to abbreviated the last two letters of the word δόξης. The object is most likely a lid of a liturgical vessel.
Palaeographic features of the text are close to those of V 89 and can be dated to the Xth century. Since the chapel in whose vicinity the monument was found is dated to a later period (Belov 1941, 243, fig. 68), it is possible that this lid originates from the adjacent "Basilica of 1932."
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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