V 206. Tepe-Kermen.Epitaph of Sophia, Ania and Simon, XIV–XVth centuries C.E.
Monument
Type
Rock wall.
Material
Limestone.
Dimensions (cm)
H.15.0, W.32.0.
Additional description
Fully preserved, covered by modern graffiti.
Place of Origin
Tepe-Kermen.
Find place
Tepe-Kermen.
Find context
"Church with sacristy", apse, north-eastern wall.
Find circumstances
1913, survey of N.A. Borovko.
Modern location
In situ.
Institution and inventory
In situ, no inventory number.
Autopsy
September 2001, September 2005, September 2009.
Epigraphic field
Position
On the front.
Lettering
Graffito; slightly elongated and pointy letters. Alpha with a loop (sometimes pointy), wide mu.
Letterheights (cm)
1.5–3.0.
Text
Category
Epitaph.
Date
XIV–XVth centuries C.E.
Dating criteria
Architectural context.
Editions
L1. Vinogradov 2002, 56.
<div type="edition" xml:lang="grc">
<ab>
<lb n="1"/><expan><abbr>Ὑπ</abbr><ex>ὲρ</ex></expan>
<lb n="2"/><expan><abbr>ἀναπαύσ</abbr><ex>εως</ex></expan>
<lb n="3"/>Σοφία.
<lb n="4"/><expan><abbr>Ὑ</abbr><ex>πὲρ</ex></expan> ἀναπαύ<lb n="5" break="no"/>σεως Ἀνία.
<lb n="6"/><expan><abbr>Ὑπ</abbr><ex>ὲρ</ex></expan> Σύμον.
</ab>
</div>Apparatus criticus
4: ἌνναVinogradov
Translation
For the resting of Sophia. For the resting of Ania. For Simon.
Commentary
The position of letters in zigzag pattern is unique.
On the formula, see Introduction IV.3.F.a.
A well known Christian name Sophia is not otherwise known in Crimea. The name Ania is not known from other sources; it might be a local variant of the name Anna. The name Simon (here Symon) (cf. V 62) is a variant of Simeonos, known from V 110 and V 124.
If the position of the inscription in the altar area is indicative, then Sophia, Ania and Simon might have been ktitores, and the inscription could be identified as dedicatory. It is also possible that three burials in the floor of the church belong to these individuals. We cannot exclude the possibility that the three parts of the inscription were carved at different times. On the date of the church, see commentary to V 203.
Images
© 2015 Andrey
Vinogradov (edition), Irene Polinskaya (translation)
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