V 214. Chilter-Marmara. Invocation of Loukas, 1402–1403 C.E.
Monument
Type
Rock wall.
Material
Limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H. 26.0, W. 34.0.
Additional description
Flat niche (Depth 1cm) with incised image of foliate cross. The surface is heavily scratched, covered with late graffiti.
Place of Origin
Chilter-Marmara.
Find place
Chilter-Marmara.
Find context
Level 5, room 43 (according to Veymarn), eastern wall, next to the niche, left of V 213.
Find circumstances
Before 1886, survey of A.L. Bertye-Delagard.
Modern location
In situ.
Institution and inventory
In situ, no inventory number.
Autopsy
September 2008.
Epigraphic field 1
Position
On the left, under the cross.
Lettering
Graffito; angular letters of varying heights. Accent marks.
Letterheights (cm)
1.0–1.5.
Text 1
Category
Invocative inscription.
Date
1402–1403 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>,
<lb n="2"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>.
</ab>
</div> Translation
Lord. Lord.
Commentary
Latyshev used a transcription of Kulakovsky dated to 1896. A photograph of the Crimean expedition conducted by the State Academy for History of Material Culture in 1934 is preserved at the Photo Archive of the Institute for History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences (О.1077.39; II–18664).
Apparently, we have an example of an unsuccessful inscription with the formula "Lord, help."
Epigraphic field 2
Position
Below the cross.
Lettering
See field 1.
Text 2
Category
Invocative inscription.
Date
1402–1403 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName>, βοήθ<supplied reason="lost">ει</supplied>.
</ab>
</div> Translation
Lord, help.
Commentary
On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.E.a.
Epigraphic field 3
Position
Below Text 2.
Lettering
See field 1.
Text 3
Category
Commemoration (?).
Date
1402–1403 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Latyshev 1896, 125–126, № 44а.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="3">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Δοῦλος τοῦ <roleName><expan><abbr>θ</abbr><ex>εο</ex><abbr>ῦ</abbr></expan></roleName> Λο<supplied reason="lost">υ</supplied>κᾶ<supplied reason="lost" cert="low">ς</supplied>. <supplied reason="lost">Ἐ</supplied>π<supplied reason="lost">ὶ</supplied> <date><expan><abbr>ἔτ</abbr><ex>ους</ex></expan>
<lb n="2"/><num value="6911">ςϠια</num></date>
</ab>
</div> Apparatus criticus
1: Δοῦλος τοῦ θ(εο)ῦ: om. Kulakovsky apud Latyshev; Λουκ[ᾶς] Latyshev 1896 om. Kulakovski apud Latyshev; Ἐ]π[ὶ] ἔτ(ους): om. Kulakovsky apud Latyshev
Translation
Servant of God, Loukas (?). In the year 6911.
Commentary
Latyshev used a transcription of Kulakovsky dated to 1896; the latter only read the year date. It is unclear why Latyshev did not offer a clear reading of the text.
The Christian name Loukas is not otherwise known in Crimea. The last text is either commemorative or funerary, the latter possibility is less likely since there are no burials in the cave.
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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