V 89. Cherson. Inscribed column, ХI–XIIIth century C.E.
Monument
Type
Column.
Material
Proconnesian marble.
Dimensions (cm)
H. 113.0, Diam. 40.0.
Additional description
There are several images on the column. On the front - sketches of compass-drawn crosses and a carved cross with "teardrops" (I). The five holes visible in the bottom half of this cross presumably served for the attachment of a metal cross. On the back - carved foliate cross (II) with "teardrops" and graffiti of three birds.
Place of Origin
Cherson.
Find place
Sevastopol (Chersonesos).
Find context
Church 36 ("Eastern Basilica") (?).
Find circumstances
1878, excavations of the Odessa Society for History and Antiquities
Modern location
Sevastopol, Crimea.
Institution and inventory
National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, 3592.
Autopsy
September 2006.
Epigraphic field 1
Position
In the corners between the arms of cross I and under cross I.
Lettering
Lapidary. Ornate letters, delta and lambda with projecting right hastae, iota with diaeresis, У-shaped upsilon, phi drawn in double line.
Letterheights (cm)
0.8–1.5.
Text 1
Category
Demonstrative inscription/commemoration.
Date
Before 1027 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Yurgevich 1879, 11, 313; 2. Yurgevich 1879a, 11, 1-12; 3. Latyshev 1896, 20–21, №10.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="1">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><expan><abbr>Φ</abbr><ex>ῶς</ex></expan> <expan><abbr>Χ</abbr><ex>ριστοῦ</ex></expan>
<lb n="2"/><expan><abbr>φ</abbr><ex>αίνει</ex></expan> <expan><abbr>π</abbr><ex>ᾶσιν</ex></expan>.
<lb n="3"/><expan><abbr>Ἰω</abbr><ex>άννης</ex></expan>, δοῦλος <expan><abbr>Χ</abbr><ex>ριστο</ex><abbr><supplied reason="lost">ῦ</supplied></abbr></expan>.
</ab>
</div> Apparatus criticus
3: τὸ ἄσυλον Χρηστός (sic!) Yurgevich 1879; [Ἰν]δι[κτιῶνος add. Yurgevich
Translation
The light of Christ shines for all. John, servant of Ch[rist].
Commentary
This column bears a set of inscriptions and drawings made at different times. The oldest are probably the cross and Text 1 carved by a certain John. These resemble the look and script of V 67 and should be also dated to the Xth century. Later, a metal cross was attached to the bottom of the carved cross (see a similar construction in Burial 11, under Church 19 ("Church with the reliquary"), Sorochan 2005, 868). The relative position of the two crosses is of note: the top of the metal cross would have been fixed at the intersection of the carved cross - such position might not be random: the top of the metal cross might have been fixed in a pre-existing hole originally used for the housing of relics (see analogous construction in a column of the Church of St. John at Ephesos: Teteriatnikova 2003, p. 90, fig. 8). Next to the carved cross and the hypothetically restored metal cross we find several more incised crosses: these are fitted inside circles. Finally, to the left and right of the carved cross we find texts 2, 3, and 4. On the opposite side of the column we find another cross (Cross II) and text 5, cut approximately at the same time as the carved cross (Cross I), as well as images of three birds. I do not see a graffito with the word "cross" by the right arm of the carved cross (I) as reported by Matantseva (1991).
Texts 2-4 are typical graffiti, while 1 and 5 are not strictly lapidary: the act of their carving on this ancient column was a gesture of personal piety.
Text 1 is apparently meant to accompany the carving of cross I and indicates the name of the person who commissioned the carving — John. It is typologically similar to the adjacent graffito (text 2) with the names of Jacob and John.
1–2. On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.C.a.
Judging by its size, the column must have originated from a large Early Byzantine church. Since the Odessa Society for History and Antiquities excavated only one such church in 1878 - Church 36 ("Eastern Basilica"), it is logical to assume that our column came from that church (see commentary to V 21, which had been published together with the inscription under consideration).
Images
Epigraphic field 2
Position
To the left of cross I.
Lettering
Graffito.
Letterheights (cm)
1.0–1.5.
Text 2
Category
Commemoration.
Date
XI–XIIIth centuries C.E
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="2">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/> <supplied reason="lost">δοῦ</supplied>λος <expan><abbr>Χ</abbr><ex>ριστο</ex><abbr>ῦ</abbr></expan>
<lb n="2"/><supplied reason="lost">Ἰάκ</supplied>ωβος.
<lb n="3"/><expan><abbr>Ἰω</abbr><ex>άννης</ex></expan>.
</ab>
</div> Translation
[Servant of] Christ, Jac[ob]. John.
Commentary
Most likely this is a commemoration.
Images
Epigraphic field 3
Position
Under inscription 1.
Lettering
Graffito. Minuscule nu and phi.
Letterheights (cm)
1.0.
Text 3
Category
Invocative inscription.
Date
1027 C.E.
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="3">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><roleName><expan><abbr>Κ</abbr><ex>ύρι</ex><abbr>ε</abbr></expan></roleName> βοήθη τὸν
<lb n="2"/>δοῦλόν σου Προκό<lb n="3" break="no"/>πιον <expan><abbr>κ</abbr><ex>αὶ</ex></expan>
Θεόδορ<supplied reason="lost">ον,</supplied> <supplied reason="lost" cert="low">μηνὶ</supplied>
<lb n="4"/><date><num value="6">ς</num> <expan cert="low"><ex>εἰκοσιεβδόμ</ex><abbr>ου</abbr></expan>,
<lb n="5"/><expan><abbr>ἔτ</abbr><ex>ου</ex><abbr>ς</abbr></expan> <num value="6535">ςφλε</num></date>.
</ab>
</div> Translation
Lord, help your servants Prokopios and Theodore. In the 6th month (?), 27th day (?), year 6535.
Commentary
1–2. Text 3 is a typical invocation (on the formula, see Introduction IV.3.E.a), with an appeal to God for help.
2–3. The names Prokopios and Theodore are known in Cherson (see V 90 and commentary to V 19).
3–4. On the numerical designation of the month, see commentary to V 60 and V 151.
5. At first sight, it appears that the second symbol in the year date is psi, but a closer look reveals that it is in fact a minuscule phi, with only the right semicircle properly complete. On the correspondence of dates "Since Creation" and "Since the Birth of Christ" in the Middle Byzantine period, see Introduction IV. 4. D. The date — 1027 C.E. demonstrates that cross I and Text I had been carved earlier — as suggested by the shape of the cross and lettershapes (see above), some time in the Xth century. This date, 1027 C.E. offers a rare opportunity for fixing a terminus post quem for the end of basilica's activity.
Images
Epigraphic field 4
Position
To the left of inscription 1.
Lettering
Graffito.
Letterheights (cm)
1.0.
Text 4
Category
Invocative (?) inscription.
Date
XI–XIIIth centuries C.E
Dating criteria
Palaeography.
Editions
Unpublished.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="4">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/> τοῦ δούλου <supplied reason="lost">τοῦ <roleName>Θεοῦ</roleName></supplied> <gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
</ab>
</div> Translation
... of the servant [of God]...
Commentary
The words "servant of God" suggest an invocation.
Images
Epigraphic field 5
Position
On the arms and intersection of cross II.
Lettering
Lapidary, shallow letters. Alpha with slanting crossbar, V-shaped upsilon; abbreviation.
Letterheights (cm)
1.4–2.3.
Text 5
Category
Demonstrative (?).
Date
Before 1027
Dating criteria
Explicit date.
Editions
L1. Yurgevich 1879, 11, 313; 2. Yurgevich 1879a, 11, 1-12; 2.1. Latyshev 1896, 21–23, №11; 3. Matantseva 1991, 251-254; 3.1. Rhoby 2014, 752-753.
<div type="textpart" subtype="inscription" n="5">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/>Οὗτος φυτευθὴς ἰς <expan><abbr>κ</abbr><ex>αι</ex><abbr>ρὼν</abbr></expan> <expan><abbr>εὐκ</abbr><ex>αι</ex><abbr>ρίας</abbr></expan>
<lb n="2"/>ἡ <expan><abbr><unclear>δ</unclear></abbr><ex>ὲ</ex></expan> <expan><abbr>ῥίζ</abbr><ex>α</ex></expan> αὐ<unclear>τ</unclear><supplied reason="lost">οῦ</supplied> <gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character"/>
</ab>
</div> Apparatus criticus
1-2: Οὗτος (ὁ σταυρὸς) φυτεύσει εἰς κράδην θεοῦ, καὶ ῥίζας οἱ θερίζον[τες οὐκ ἐκριζώσουσιν Yurgevich
2: τὴ[ν] ῥίζαν ε... Matantseva; om. Rhoby
Translation
It was planted at an opportune time, its root...
Commentary
Text 5 was evidently conceived as two dodecasyllabic lines: one arranged vertically, the other horizontally; part of the text on the right arm of the cross was either not finished or completely erased later on. The poem was apparently composed ad hoc, as in most examples of this kind (see also Matantseva 1991). Latyshev who had twice discussed this inscription (1896, №11; 1897, 149) never commented on the reading proposed by Yurgevich. Rhoby established parallels for the expressions used in line 1 - they are found in Ephraem Syrus, Sermo in pretiosam et vivificam crucem, et in secundum adventum, et de caritate et eleemosyna (IV 135) and in Ignatius Draconus. Vita S. Tarasii 19, 4.
Images
© 2015 Andrey Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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