E01062: Labels of tombs with references to a church in Korykos, dedicated to *Charitine (martyr of Korykos, S00664), and a burial club or a charitable institution, affiliated to it. Found at Korykos/Corycus (Cilicia, south-east Asia Minor). Probably late 5th or 6th c.
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posted on 2016-01-08, 00:00authored byNikolaos
Inscription 1:
Engraved over the entrance to a rock-cut tomb. Recorded in 1891 and 1892 by Adolf Wilhelm. To the right of our text there is another inscription with an imprecation, threatening potential desecrators of the grave.
'L(or)d! + The tomb of Paulos, presbyter and watchman (of the church) of Saint Charitine.'
Text: MAMA III, no. 638.
Inscription 2:
A sarcophagus. Recorded in 1925 by Josef Keil and Adolf Wilhelm. There is no published detailed description of the object. The inscription is written within a circle. To the right of it there is another text, saying that a certain Marinos is buried in the tomb.
+ τοῦ φιλιακ- οῦ τῆς ἁγ[ί-] ας Χαρι- τίνη- ς
'+ (Tomb) of the friendly association of Saint Charitine.'
Text: MAMA III, no. 580a.
Inscription 3:
The lid of a sarcophagus. Letter height 0.15-0.085 m. Recorded in 1925 by Josef Keil and Adolf Wilhelm.
+ θήκη τοῦ φηλιακοῦ + τῆς ἁγί+ας Χαρι- + τίνις
'+ Sarcophagus of the friendly association + of Sa+int Chari+tine.'
Text: MAMA III, no. 788.
History
Evidence ID
E01062
Saint Name
Charitine, virgin and martyr of Corycus (Cilicia) : S00664
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Cultic confraternities
Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Discussion
Inscription 1 labels the tomb that belonged to a certain Paulos, presbyter and guardian (παραμονάριος) of a church dedicated to *Charitine, presumably the holy virgin, martyred in Corycus according to her legend (E06693). A guild affiliated to the same church, or just named after the same saint, is mentioned in Inscriptions 2 and 3. The guild is called φιλιακόν, which literally means 'a friendly association', and may designate a burial club, raising funds for the burial of its members. For a commentary on the term φιλιακόν, see E01029. Inscription 2 may be an official label, placed by the guild on its tombs, as it is written in a circle, in a much better lettering than the text engraved to the right of it.
A further inscription inscription, presented in record E01063, shows that another φιλιακόν, this time named after Mary as the God-Bearer, was also active at the city.
Dating: probably late 5th or 6th c. (based on the style of the lettering and tombs).
Bibliography
Edition:
Inscription 1:
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. Kry 181.
Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua III, no. 638.
Inscription 2:
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. Kry 594a.
Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua III, no. 580a.
Inscription 3:
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. Kry 359.
Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua III, no. 788.
Further reading:
Destephen, S., "Martyrs locaux et cultes civiques en Asie Mineure", in: J.C. Caillet, S. Destephen, B. Dumézil, H. Inglebert, Des dieux civiques aux saints patrons (IVe-VIIe siècle) (Paris: éditions A. & J. Picard, 2015), 106.
Halkin, F., "Inscriptions grecques relatives à l'hagiographie, IX, Asie Mineure", Analecta Bollandiana 71 (1953), 89-90.
Maraval, P., Lieux saints et pélerinages d’Orient. Histoire et géographie des origines à la conquête arabe (Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1985), 356.
Mietke, G., "Monumentalisierung christilcher Heiliger in Kilikien in frühbyzantinischer Zeit", Olba 17 (2009), 121.