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E00987: Greek inscription on a boundary stone of a church of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), also called the God-Bearer. Found at Koukousos (Roman province of Armenia II, eastern Asia Minor). Probably late 5th or 6th c.

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posted on 2015-12-14, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski

[[+]] ὅροι τῆς ἁ[γίας]
καὶ Θεοτ[όκου]
Μαρία[ς]
(a monogram)

'[[+]] Boundaries (of the church) of the holy and the God-Bearer Mary.'

Text: Sitlington Sterrett 1883-1884, no. 280.

History

Evidence ID

E00987

Saint Name

Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033

Saint Name in Source

Θεοτόκος Μαρία

Related Saint Records

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

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)

Language

Greek

Evidence not before

490

Evidence not after

600

Activity not before

490

Activity not after

600

Place of Evidence - Region

Asia Minor

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Koukousos

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

Koukousos Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos Nicomedia

Cult activities - Places

Cult building - independent (church)

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Seeking asylum at church/shrine

Source

A round column, found in 1884 by John Robert Sitlington Sterrett in the eastern cemetery at Göksun (Koukousos, Armenia II, eastern Asia Minor). It was broken into two parts. The cross at the beginning of the first line was probably erased.

Discussion

The inscription is on a boundary stone of a church or an estate belonging to a church of *Mary, Mother of Christ. This is a rare case, where Mary is called in an inscription by her name and not just as the God-Bearer (Theotokos). The monogram in line 4, consists of letters Ν, Ο, Υ, and perhaps Θ and Τ. The editor did not attempt to decipher its meaning. Though this inscription does not say so explicitly, boundary stones were usually bestowed upon sanctuaries by emperors. Dating: Probably late 5th or 6th c. (as may other boundary stones were are dated by emperors of this period).

Bibliography

Edition: Sillington Sterrett, J.R., "An Epigraphical Journey in Asia Minor" (Papers of The American School of Classical Studies at Athens 2, 1883-1884, Boston 1888: Damrell and Upham, 1888), no. 280. Reference works: Bulletin épigraphique (1952), 154.

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Keywords

S00033 History

Licence

CC0

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