E01031: A round terracotta disk with an inscription referring to *Raphael (the Archangel, S00481). Found at Anemourion (Isauria, southern Asia Minor). Probably late antique.

online resource

posted on 2015-12-30, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski

A round terracotta mould with a Latin cross in the centre and an inscription, running around the edge, in mirror writing:

Εὐλογία τοῦ ἁγίου Ῥαφαήλ

'Blessing of Saint Raphael.'

Text: Russell 1982, 542-543.

History

Evidence ID

E01031

Saint Name

Raphaēl, the Archangel : S00481

Saint Name in Source

Ῥαφαήλ

Related Saint Records

https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Raphael_the_Archangel/13730416

Type of Evidence

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

Language

Greek

Evidence not before

400

Evidence not after

800

Activity not before

400

Activity not after

800

Place of Evidence - Region

Asia Minor

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Anemourion

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

Anemourion Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos Nicomedia

Cult activities - Activities Accompanying Cult

Production and selling of eulogiai, tokens

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Pilgrimage

Cult Activities - Relics

Ampullae, eulogiai, tokens

Cult Activities - Cult Related Objects

Ampullae, flasks, etc.

Discussion

James Russell plausibly argues that this was a mould designed for the production of amuletic discs, but it is also not unlikely that it was made to stamp bread (that it was a stamp, or mould, is suggested by the use of mirror-writing).

Bibliography

Edition: Hagel, St., Tomaschitz, K., (eds.), Repertorium der westkilikischen Inschriften (Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Denkschriften der philosophisch-historischen Klasse 265, Ergänzungsbände zu den Tituli Asiae Minoris 22, Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1998), no. Anm 46. Russell, J., "The evil eye in early Byzantine history. Archaeological evidence from Anemurium in Isauria", Jahrbuch der österreichsichen Byzantinistik 32 (1982), 542-543. Reference works: Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum 39, 1425.