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. Vinogradov 2009, 244-245. 

Edition

[Ἰω(άννης) (e.g.) ἀ]νέβαλε· ἐκυμήθυ Υ̓ωνᾶς.

Diplomatic

[.......]ΝΕΒΑΛΕΕΚΥΜΗΘΥΥΩΝΑΣ

EpiDoc (XML)

<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

(cc) © 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
You may download this inscription in EpiDoc XML. (This file should validate to the EpiDoc schema.)