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E00708: Fragmentary Greek inscription from Ephesos (western Asia Minor) with an excerpt from a letter, probably from the emperor Justinian (527-565), stating the unique dignity of *John (Apostle and Evangelist, S00042) and his precedence over *Polycarp (bishop and martyr of Smyrna, S00004).
online resource
posted on 2015-09-12, 00:00 authored by pnowakowskiTwo substantial fragments of the inscription have been found, and three smaller ones.
I:
]̣ω̣ς καὶ τοσαύ̣τ̣ης ἐκ […...]
ἀξι]̣ωθῆναι καὶ ἀγαπητὸν αὐτὸν μαθητ̣ὴ̣ν
[ὑπὲρ πάν]̣τας ὀνομασθῆναι, καὶ πρῶτον μὲν
[τοῖς Κ(υρίο)υ] ἀνακλιθῆναι στέρνοις, ἐκεῖθέν τε
[ἕκλειν .].τους ἐκείνας φωνάς, δι’ ὧν ἡμῖν καὶ
[δοὺς τὴν] ἔνθεον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνεκδιήγητον θεο-
[λογίαν κ]αὶ βροντῆς υἱὸς εἰκότως ἐκλήθη, ὡς
[οὐκ ἀνθ]ρώπινον φθεγγόμενος ἀλλ’ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ
[ἡμῖν τὰ μ]̣υ̣στικώτ̣ατα τῶν δογμάτων ἀναφαίνων,
[ c. 14 letters ] τοσοῦτον δὲ τὸ μέγεθος
[ ὥστ]ε καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἁγίαν τε καὶ
[ἀειπάρθενον (?) αὐ]̣τοῦ κυρίως μητέρα τὸν θ(εὸ)ν
[ ἁγιώ]τ(ατον) ἀπόστολον εἶναι τῆς
[ ]αν μητρὸς ὑπαρχούση̣ς
[ ἀ]̣γ̣ί[ου ἀ]̣ποστόλου κατα[....]
I. 1-2. ἐκ [τούτου | τειμῆς ἀξι]ωθῆναι Keil || 2-3. μαθητὴ[ν | θῡ παρὰ πάν]τας Keil || 4. [τοῖς τοῦ θ̅υ̅] Keil || 4-5. τε|[θήλακε (Heberdey) ἀπύσ]τους Keil, τέ|[τακε ἀγνώσ]τους or ἀρρήτους Keil p. 371 n. 1, τε | [σχεῖν (or λαβεῖν) τὰς ἀφά]τους Grégoire, τε | [σχεῖν τὰς ἀρρή]τους Wankel || 5-6. και|[νίζων τό τε] ἔνθεον Keil, καὶ [φήνας (or δηλῶν) τό τε] ἔνθεον Grégoire Wankel || 6-7. θεο|[λόγος τε κ]αὶ Keil || 8. [οὐδὲν ἀνθ]ρώπινον Keil || 10. [τε καὶ ἀνακαλύπτων.] Keil || 11. [τῆς τιμῆς αὐτοῦ ὥστ]ε Keil || 12. [ἐξ ἁγs πνεύματος αὑτ]οῦ Keil || 13. [ἀποφαίνειν, τὸν ἁγιώ]τs Keil || 14. [αὐτῆς υἱὸν κατ᾿ ἐναντί]αν μητρὸς Keil, οὐ κατ᾿ ἀλήθει]αν Crönert || 15. [τῆς Θεοτόκου τοῦ ἁγιωτs ἀ]π[οσ]τόλου Keil || 15-16. κατ[ὰ τοὺς | λόγους τοῦ θ̅υ̅] Keil, κατὰ [δὲ τὴν | ἀξίωσιν τοῦ θ̅υ̅] Crönert || 14-15. [αὐτῆς υἱόν, ὡσπερ] ἂν μητρὸς ὑπαρχούση̣ς | [τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἁ]̣γ̣ι[ωτ(άτου) ἀ]ποστόλου κατὰ [υἱοθεσίαν (or: τὸ πνεῦμα?) - - -] Rizos
II:
[ ].̣ω.[....]̣λου μ̣α[ ]
[ ]̣ωρειν καὶ ὑποκεκλ̣ί[σθαι ]
[ ] ̣ἁ̣γ̣ι̣ωτ(άτου) μάρτυρος Πολυκάρπο[υ τοιοῦτο]
[προνό]μιον ἐσχηκότος. οὐ γὰρ ἑτέρ[α τούτῳ τῆς]
[ἁγιό]τητος οὐδὲ τῆς ἱερω<σ>ύνης ̣δ[ιδασκαλία]
[ἢ παρ]̣ὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων τε καὶ μαθ[ητῶν τοῦ θ(εο)ῦ,]
[οὐδὲ] ἂν οὐδὲ αὐτὸς ἀποδέξοιτο, Σ̣μ[υρναίους]
[εἰ τ]ῷ καθ’ ὑμᾶς ἀποστολικῷ τε̣μ[ένει (?) ]
[ ]ειν ἐπιχειροῖεν [ ]
[ ] ἐξ οὗ καὶ αὐ[ ]
[ ] ἀριθμηθ[ ]
[ ]̣α̣ι̣κ[ ]
II. 1. μεγά]̣λου μ̣ά[ρτυρος (?) Feissel || 2-3 ...ρειν καὶ ὑποκεκλ[ιμένου ἄρ|χειν ἄτε τῆς τοῦ ἁγι]ωτs Keil, ]̣ωρειν Wankel, ὀλιγ]̣ωρεῖν Merkelbach || 3-4. Πολυκάρπο[υ ἐπισκο|πῆς τὸ προνό]μιον Keil Wankel, Πολυκάρπο[υ τὸ ἱερώ|τατον μνη]μῖον Keil || 4-5. ἕτερ[ος τούτω πε|ρὶ τῆς ὁσιό]τητος Keil Wankel || 5-6. ἂ[ν ἁμιλλη|θείη. ἀλλὰ] τῶν Keil Wankel || 6-7. μαθ[ητῶν τὴν ἐξαί|ρετον δόξ]αν Keil Wankel, κυριώ|τεραν δόξ]αν Crönert || 7-8. Σ[μυρναῖοί τε | εἴ τίνες τ]ῶ Keil, Σμ[υρναῖοι Wankel || 8-9. Τει[μοθέω αὐτὴν | περιβάλλ]ειν Keil Wankel (omisit αὐτὴν) || 7-9. Σ̣μ[υρναῖοι δὲ εἰ | τῇ αὐτῇ τ]ῷ καθ’ ὑμᾶς ἀποστολικῷ τει[μῇ θρόνῳ ἑαυτοὺς | περιβαλ]εῖν ἐπιχειροῖεν [- - -] Rizos || 9-12. [οὐδαμῶς ἂν γνώμην συγ|καταθεῖντο.] ἐξ οὗ καὶ αὐ[τοκέφαλος γενέσθαι καὶ ἐν | ἀρχιεπισκόποις] ἀριθμηθ[ῆναι ὁ Σμυρναίων θρόνος | ἠξιώθη] Keil, omisit Wankel.
III/1:
].̣δ[
π]εριβλ[επτ-
τ]̣οῖς δὲ [
]ν̣ο̣σ[
III/2:
].ο[
]το̣υ[
]νολ[
]συγ[
]ιο̣υ[
III/3:
]ΜΕ̣Ι[
]ΕΡΑΤ[
]̣τέραν [
]. Τ̣Ι.[
'[- - -] and that he was deemed worthy of such [- - -] and he was called the most beloved disciple [above all others], and, firstly, he was to repose on the chest [of the Lord], and thence [he received] those words, through which [he gave] to us his divine and indescribable theology, and for this reason he was justly called the Son of Thunder, because he spoke [nothing] of human provenance, but from Heaven did he reveal for [us] the most occult of teachings. Such was the greatness of [- - -] that God, addressing his holy and [forever Virgin (?)] real mother, [- - - the most holy] Apostle was [her son (?) - - -] mother being present [- - -] of the holy Apostle [- - -]
[- - - of the great martyr (?) - - -] to be inclined (?) [- - - ] of the most holy martyr Polycarp who had [such privilege]. And he did not receive any [teachings] on holiness and priesthood other than [from] the Apostles and Disciples [of God (?)]. And he himself would not approve that if the citizens of Smyrna would have attempted to [- - -] for your apostolic [sanctuary - - -]'
Text: Feissel, D., "Acte de Justinien mettant en parallèle saint Jean et saint Polycarpe" (forthcoming, kindly shared by Denis Feissel in a letter dated 17.09.2016.). Translation: E. Rizos, P. Nowakowski.
I:
]̣ω̣ς καὶ τοσαύ̣τ̣ης ἐκ […...]
ἀξι]̣ωθῆναι καὶ ἀγαπητὸν αὐτὸν μαθητ̣ὴ̣ν
[ὑπὲρ πάν]̣τας ὀνομασθῆναι, καὶ πρῶτον μὲν
[τοῖς Κ(υρίο)υ] ἀνακλιθῆναι στέρνοις, ἐκεῖθέν τε
[ἕκλειν .].τους ἐκείνας φωνάς, δι’ ὧν ἡμῖν καὶ
[δοὺς τὴν] ἔνθεον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνεκδιήγητον θεο-
[λογίαν κ]αὶ βροντῆς υἱὸς εἰκότως ἐκλήθη, ὡς
[οὐκ ἀνθ]ρώπινον φθεγγόμενος ἀλλ’ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ
[ἡμῖν τὰ μ]̣υ̣στικώτ̣ατα τῶν δογμάτων ἀναφαίνων,
[ c. 14 letters ] τοσοῦτον δὲ τὸ μέγεθος
[ ὥστ]ε καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἁγίαν τε καὶ
[ἀειπάρθενον (?) αὐ]̣τοῦ κυρίως μητέρα τὸν θ(εὸ)ν
[ ἁγιώ]τ(ατον) ἀπόστολον εἶναι τῆς
[ ]αν μητρὸς ὑπαρχούση̣ς
[ ἀ]̣γ̣ί[ου ἀ]̣ποστόλου κατα[....]
I. 1-2. ἐκ [τούτου | τειμῆς ἀξι]ωθῆναι Keil || 2-3. μαθητὴ[ν | θῡ παρὰ πάν]τας Keil || 4. [τοῖς τοῦ θ̅υ̅] Keil || 4-5. τε|[θήλακε (Heberdey) ἀπύσ]τους Keil, τέ|[τακε ἀγνώσ]τους or ἀρρήτους Keil p. 371 n. 1, τε | [σχεῖν (or λαβεῖν) τὰς ἀφά]τους Grégoire, τε | [σχεῖν τὰς ἀρρή]τους Wankel || 5-6. και|[νίζων τό τε] ἔνθεον Keil, καὶ [φήνας (or δηλῶν) τό τε] ἔνθεον Grégoire Wankel || 6-7. θεο|[λόγος τε κ]αὶ Keil || 8. [οὐδὲν ἀνθ]ρώπινον Keil || 10. [τε καὶ ἀνακαλύπτων.] Keil || 11. [τῆς τιμῆς αὐτοῦ ὥστ]ε Keil || 12. [ἐξ ἁγs πνεύματος αὑτ]οῦ Keil || 13. [ἀποφαίνειν, τὸν ἁγιώ]τs Keil || 14. [αὐτῆς υἱὸν κατ᾿ ἐναντί]αν μητρὸς Keil, οὐ κατ᾿ ἀλήθει]αν Crönert || 15. [τῆς Θεοτόκου τοῦ ἁγιωτs ἀ]π[οσ]τόλου Keil || 15-16. κατ[ὰ τοὺς | λόγους τοῦ θ̅υ̅] Keil, κατὰ [δὲ τὴν | ἀξίωσιν τοῦ θ̅υ̅] Crönert || 14-15. [αὐτῆς υἱόν, ὡσπερ] ἂν μητρὸς ὑπαρχούση̣ς | [τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἁ]̣γ̣ι[ωτ(άτου) ἀ]ποστόλου κατὰ [υἱοθεσίαν (or: τὸ πνεῦμα?) - - -] Rizos
II:
[ ].̣ω.[....]̣λου μ̣α[ ]
[ ]̣ωρειν καὶ ὑποκεκλ̣ί[σθαι ]
[ ] ̣ἁ̣γ̣ι̣ωτ(άτου) μάρτυρος Πολυκάρπο[υ τοιοῦτο]
[προνό]μιον ἐσχηκότος. οὐ γὰρ ἑτέρ[α τούτῳ τῆς]
[ἁγιό]τητος οὐδὲ τῆς ἱερω<σ>ύνης ̣δ[ιδασκαλία]
[ἢ παρ]̣ὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων τε καὶ μαθ[ητῶν τοῦ θ(εο)ῦ,]
[οὐδὲ] ἂν οὐδὲ αὐτὸς ἀποδέξοιτο, Σ̣μ[υρναίους]
[εἰ τ]ῷ καθ’ ὑμᾶς ἀποστολικῷ τε̣μ[ένει (?) ]
[ ]ειν ἐπιχειροῖεν [ ]
[ ] ἐξ οὗ καὶ αὐ[ ]
[ ] ἀριθμηθ[ ]
[ ]̣α̣ι̣κ[ ]
II. 1. μεγά]̣λου μ̣ά[ρτυρος (?) Feissel || 2-3 ...ρειν καὶ ὑποκεκλ[ιμένου ἄρ|χειν ἄτε τῆς τοῦ ἁγι]ωτs Keil, ]̣ωρειν Wankel, ὀλιγ]̣ωρεῖν Merkelbach || 3-4. Πολυκάρπο[υ ἐπισκο|πῆς τὸ προνό]μιον Keil Wankel, Πολυκάρπο[υ τὸ ἱερώ|τατον μνη]μῖον Keil || 4-5. ἕτερ[ος τούτω πε|ρὶ τῆς ὁσιό]τητος Keil Wankel || 5-6. ἂ[ν ἁμιλλη|θείη. ἀλλὰ] τῶν Keil Wankel || 6-7. μαθ[ητῶν τὴν ἐξαί|ρετον δόξ]αν Keil Wankel, κυριώ|τεραν δόξ]αν Crönert || 7-8. Σ[μυρναῖοί τε | εἴ τίνες τ]ῶ Keil, Σμ[υρναῖοι Wankel || 8-9. Τει[μοθέω αὐτὴν | περιβάλλ]ειν Keil Wankel (omisit αὐτὴν) || 7-9. Σ̣μ[υρναῖοι δὲ εἰ | τῇ αὐτῇ τ]ῷ καθ’ ὑμᾶς ἀποστολικῷ τει[μῇ θρόνῳ ἑαυτοὺς | περιβαλ]εῖν ἐπιχειροῖεν [- - -] Rizos || 9-12. [οὐδαμῶς ἂν γνώμην συγ|καταθεῖντο.] ἐξ οὗ καὶ αὐ[τοκέφαλος γενέσθαι καὶ ἐν | ἀρχιεπισκόποις] ἀριθμηθ[ῆναι ὁ Σμυρναίων θρόνος | ἠξιώθη] Keil, omisit Wankel.
III/1:
].̣δ[
π]εριβλ[επτ-
τ]̣οῖς δὲ [
]ν̣ο̣σ[
III/2:
].ο[
]το̣υ[
]νολ[
]συγ[
]ιο̣υ[
III/3:
]ΜΕ̣Ι[
]ΕΡΑΤ[
]̣τέραν [
]. Τ̣Ι.[
'[- - -] and that he was deemed worthy of such [- - -] and he was called the most beloved disciple [above all others], and, firstly, he was to repose on the chest [of the Lord], and thence [he received] those words, through which [he gave] to us his divine and indescribable theology, and for this reason he was justly called the Son of Thunder, because he spoke [nothing] of human provenance, but from Heaven did he reveal for [us] the most occult of teachings. Such was the greatness of [- - -] that God, addressing his holy and [forever Virgin (?)] real mother, [- - - the most holy] Apostle was [her son (?) - - -] mother being present [- - -] of the holy Apostle [- - -]
[- - - of the great martyr (?) - - -] to be inclined (?) [- - - ] of the most holy martyr Polycarp who had [such privilege]. And he did not receive any [teachings] on holiness and priesthood other than [from] the Apostles and Disciples [of God (?)]. And he himself would not approve that if the citizens of Smyrna would have attempted to [- - -] for your apostolic [sanctuary - - -]'
Text: Feissel, D., "Acte de Justinien mettant en parallèle saint Jean et saint Polycarpe" (forthcoming, kindly shared by Denis Feissel in a letter dated 17.09.2016.). Translation: E. Rizos, P. Nowakowski.
History
Evidence ID
E00708Saint Name
John the Evangelist : S00042 Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr, and other martyrs in Smyrna, ob. 2nd c. : S00004 Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033 Timothy, the disciple of Paul the Apostle, ob. c.97 : S00466Saint Name in Source
Πολύκαρπος Μήτηρ Θεοῦ Τει[μόθεος]Related Saint Records
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Mary_Mother_of_Christ/13729186
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Timothy_the_disciple_of_Paul_the_Apostle/13730377
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Polykarpos_Polycarp_bishop_and_martyr_of_Smyrna_and_his_companion_martyrs/13729126
- https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/John_the_Apostle_and_Evangelist/13729210
Image Caption 1
Part I. Drawing from: Keil 1924.Image Caption 2
Part II. Drawing from: Keil 1924.Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.) Canonical and legal textsLanguage
- Greek