V 77. Cherson. Epitaph of Gordianos (?), VI–VIIth centuries C.E.
Monument
Type
Panel.
Material
Limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H. 10.5, W. 9.0, Th. 4.5.
Additional description
Broken on all sides.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Necropolis by the Extramural Cruciform Church, soil heap.
Find circumstances
1906, excavations of K.K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 34964, 35074.
Autopsy
May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007.
Epigraphic field
Position
On the front.
Lettering
Lapidary. Alpha with broken crossbar, half-diamond sigma.
Letterheights (cm)
1.5–1.8.
Text
Category
Epitaph.
Date
VI–VIIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
L1. Vinogradov 2009, 240-242.
<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/><orig><unclear>Σ</unclear>Ο</orig><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
<lb n="2"/><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/> τ<unclear>ὸ</unclear> μ<unclear>ν</unclear><supplied reason="lost">ημεῖον</supplied>
<lb n="3"/><supplied reason="lost">Γο</supplied>ρδε<unclear>α</unclear><supplied reason="lost" cert="low">νοῦ</supplied><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
</ab>
</div> Translation
...] monument of Go[rdia]nos (?)...
Commentary
We note a tendency towards "classical" lettershapes in the style of writing, therefore we favour a date in the Early Byzantine period.
2. Judging by the place of find (Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich 1909, 66), this tombstone came from the necropolis by the Extramural Cruciform Church, which is corroborated by the restoration of the word "monument." On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.F.h.
3. Letters ΡΔΕΑ can be interpreted only as belonging to a name, in which case the only possibility is Gordianos, where е has replaced i (such form is found in Suppl. Ephesos 16a.2663.12). In Christian use, it is attested in MAMA VIII 252b (Lycaonia) и Diehl 1925, № 3995B (Roma, San Sebastiano). In the Northern Black Sea region it is not known, and so it is logical to suppose that it came from the outside, most likely, from Asia Minor, where it was common in the Roman period.
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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