E00838: Greek inscription on a small clay pot with an invocation of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033). Found in Aphrodisias (Caria, western Asia Minor). Probably late antique (5th c. or later).

online resource

posted on 2015-11-04, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski

On a small clay pot:

βοΐθη
+ Θεωτόκε Μαρία

1. βοΐθη = βοήθει || 2. Θεωτόκε = Θεοτόκε || 3. Μαρία or Μαρίᾳ

'Help, + Mary the Theotokos!' or 'The Theotokos, help Maria!'

Text: IAph2007 15.353. Interpretation and translation: Ch. Roueché.

History

Evidence ID

E00838

Saint Name

Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033

Saint Name in Source

Θεωτόκος, perhaps also Μαρία

Related Saint Records

https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Mary_Mother_of_Christ/13729186

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Inscribed objects Images and objects - Other portable objects (metalwork, ivory, etc.)

Language

Greek

Evidence not before

431

Evidence not after

1300

Activity not before

431

Activity not after

1300

Place of Evidence - Region

Asia Minor

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Aphrodisias

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Aphrodisias Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos Nicomedia

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Women

Cult Activities - Cult Related Objects

Other

Source

Small clay pot found in Aphrodisias (Caria, west Asia Minor), with no good context. H. 7 cm; diameter 10.5 cm.

Discussion

The pot bears an invocation of *Mary (the Mother of Jesus). She is called the Theotokos. Charlotte Roueché stresses that this is the only invocation of the Theotokos found at the site (see ala2004, ch. VIII.22). The name Maria may be understood as the name of the supplicant (dative) or as the name of the addressee (nominative).

Bibliography

Edition: IAph2007 15.353. http://insaph.kcl.ac.uk/iaph2007/iAph150353.html Roueché, Ch. (ed.), Aphrodisias in Late Antiquity. The Late Roman and Byzantine Inscriptions including Texts from the Excavations at Aphrodisias conducted by Kenan T. Erim (Journal of Roman Studies Monograph 5, London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1989), no. 146. Further Reading: Roueché, Ch., Aphrodisias in Late Antiquity,electronic second edition (London, 2004), ch. VIII.22. http://insaph.kcl.ac.uk/ala2004/narrative/sec-VIII.html