V 90. Cherson. Graffiti on a tabletop, Х–XIIIth century C.E.
Monument
Type
Tabletop.
Material
Proconnesian marble.
Dimensions (cm)
H. 69.5, W. 82.0, Th. 4.5.
Additional description
Three monograms are scratched on the top surface. Broken off on the left.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Harbour area, residential blocks between 2nd longitudinal street and the connector-wall by Curtain Wall XVII, "Church with arcosolia", southwest corner, arcosolium, Grave 1, cover.
Find circumstances
1963, excavations of L.G. Kolesnikova.
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 124/36504.
Autopsy
May 1999, August 2001, September 2002, September 2003, September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, September 2007.
Epigraphic field 1
Position
Along the bottom edge.
Lettering
Graffito, the direction of writing follows the edge of the tabletop. Alpha with a loop. Ligature nu-eta, abbreviation marks.
Letterheights (cm)
0.7–1.3.
Text 1
Category
Invocative inscription.
Date
X–XIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName><supplied reason="lost"><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></supplied></roleName>,
βούφη <note>?</note> <g ref="#stauros"/>
Προ<unclear>κ</unclear>οπήο
το͂ <expan><abbr>σηνγ</abbr><ex>ενεῖ</ex></expan>
<lb n="2"/><unclear>τοῦ</unclear>
<expan><abbr>Ν<supplied reason="lost">ι</supplied>κολ</abbr><ex>άου</ex></expan>
<expan><ex>μον</ex><abbr><supplied reason="lost">α</supplied>χ</abbr><ex cert="low">οῦ</ex></expan>.
</ab>
</div> Translation
[Lord], help Prokopios, a kinsman of monk Nicholas.
Commentary
The tabletop was found in secondary use - as a cover for a collective grave, the contents of which cannot be dated precisely (there are both Early and Middle Byzantine items present). The original function of the table is unclear, but it must have been in use over a long period of time - X-XIIIth centuries. Inscriptions on the tabletop are mainly commemorative.
Оn the formula, see Introduction IV.3.E.a. The name Prokopios (here Prokopeos) is known in Cherson in the XIth century from V 89.3 (1027 C.E.).
Images
Epigraphic field 2
Position
Above Text 1.
Letterheights (cm)
1.0.
Text 2
Category
Commemorative inscription.
Date
X–XIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><g ref="#stauros"/> Ἐνκέ<lb n="2" break="no"/>νια <orig><unclear>ΧΑΜ</unclear></orig> <gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
</ab>
</div> Translation
Renewal (or renovation)...
Commentary
It is unclear which object is being "renewed," that is, consecrated.
Images
Epigraphic field 3
Position
To the right of Text 2
Letterheights (cm)
0.8.
Text 3
Category
Commemorative inscription.
Date
X–XIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="3">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><g ref="#stauros"/> Θωτήου.
</ab>
</div> Translation
Of Photios.
Commentary
The use of theta instead of phi, while attested in Byzantine epigraphy, is otherwise unknown in the Black Sea region.
Images
Epigraphic field 4
Position
Below Text 3.
Letterheights (cm)
1.2.
Text 4
Category
Commemorative inscription.
Date
X–XIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="4">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><expan><abbr>Θεωδ</abbr><ex>ό</ex><abbr>τ</abbr><ex>ου</ex></expan>.
</ab>
</div> Translation
Of Theodotos.
Commentary
On the name Theodotos, cf. V 327.
Images
Epigraphic field 5
Position
To the right of Text 3
Lettering
Graffito. Delta with extended horizontal raised to mid-letterheight.
Letterheights (cm)
1.4.
Text 5
Category
Commemorative inscription.
Date
XII–XIIIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="5">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><expan><abbr>Ἐνν<unclear>ε</unclear>άδ</abbr><ex cert="low">ες</ex></expan>.
</ab>
</div> Translation
The nines (?).
Commentary
The meaning of the text is unclear. On the form of delta, see commentary to V 335.
Images
Epigraphic field 6
Position
To the right of Text 5
Letterheights (cm)
0.6.
Text 6
Category
Acclamation.
Date
X–XIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="6">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Νηκήτα τύχι.
</ab>
</div> Translation
Niketas' fortune.
Commentary
See commentary to Text 7.
Images
Epigraphic field 7
Position
Along the upper edge.
Letterheights (cm)
0.8.
Text 7
Category
Acclamation.
Date
X–XIth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="7">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Νηκήτα
<lb n="2"/>τύχι.
</ab>
</div> Translation
Niketas' fortune.
Commentary
Texts 6 and 7, with a well-known formula τύχη, contain a wish of good luck. Such wishes are usually addressed to a city, emperor or circus faction. Addressed to a private individual (although it also refers to the faction of "the Greens"), it is only known in Lefebvre 1907, № 37. For the Xth century, we know of examples from Meyer-Plath, Schneider 1943, № 29a, 29b, 32, 40.
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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