E01186: Greek inscription on a marble slab, probably an altar, dedicated to *Michael (the Archangel, S00181). Found at Pythagorio (Samos, the Aegean Islands). Probably late antique or middle Byzantine.
Aegean islands and Cyprus
Aegean islands and Cyprus
Place of Evidence - City, village, etc
Samos
Pythagorio
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Samos
Salamis
Σαλαμίς
Salamis
Salamis
Farmagusta
Far
Κωνσταντία
Konstantia
Constantia
Pythagorio
Salamis
Σαλαμίς
Salamis
Salamis
Farmagusta
Far
Κωνσταντία
Konstantia
Constantia
Cult activities - Places
Altar
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives
Women
Source
A white marble square plaque/table (an altar?): 'mensa quadrata e marmore albo'. Width and length 0.77 m. Found in the city of Pythagorio. The inscription runs on the margin of the slab.
Klaus Hallof, the editor of Inscriptiones Graecae XII 6,2, was unable to see and examine the object himself and he does not specify his source for the description of the stone.
Discussion
The inscription is an invocation of Michael the Archangel. We may be dealing with an altar, dedicated to the Archangel and inscribed with a request for help for the donor.
Hallof placed it among 'Byzantine' inscriptions, though an earlier date is also possible (in case of such invocations any reliable dating must be based on an examination of the script).