V 81. Cherson. Epitaph of Agathemeros, IV–Vth centuries C.E.
Monument
Type
Cross.
Material
Limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H. 17.0, W. 24.0, Th. 12.0.
Additional description
Cross with flaring arms. The front is planed. Broken on all sides, except the left.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Necropolis (?).
Find circumstances
1890, excavations of K.K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 86/36504.
Autopsy
May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007.
Epigraphic field
Position
At the intersection.
Lettering
Lapidary. Alpha with slanting crossbar, mu in the shape of two intersecting lambdas. Ligature: omicron - diamond rho.
Letterheights (cm)
1.2–2.9.
Text
Category
Epitaph.
Date
IV–Vth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
L1. Latyshev 1892a, 37, № 30; 2; 2. Latyshev 1893, 80; 2.1. Latyshev 1896, 32, № 25; 3. Vinogradov 2010, 138–139, № j.
<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><g ref="#stauros"/>
Ἀγαθιμ<lb n="2" break="no"/>έρου.
</ab>
</div> Apparatus criticus
1-2: Ἀγαθία[ς Θεοδώ]ρου(?) Latyshev 1892
Translation
Of Agathemeros.
Commentary
The shape of the monument resembles that of V 76.
1-2. Agathemeros is a Christian name: we know of St. martyr Agathemeros from Mysia (Bibliotheca sanctorum, I, 338). In Christian epigraphy, this name is attested only in Phoenicia (Rey-Cocais 1977, № 27, SEG 8.240), but it is not necessary to suspect a borrowing of name in our case, since it is also attested in ancient Bosporus (CIRB 1283; 228 C.E.).
The archaeological context of this find is unknown: Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich 1893 does not mention it.
The script, in particular the shape of alpha, is similar to V 5, V 61, V 72, V 101. At the same time, diamond-shaped ligature omicron-epsilon is analogous to V 78.
On tombstones in the shape of a cross, see commentary to V 61.
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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