Record | The Cult of Saints

Greek inscription, engraved over the entrance to a rock-cut tomb, with an invocation of Christ and *Michael (the Archangel, S00181), asked to help his servants. Found at Germanikopolis (Isauria, southern Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.

Evidence ID

E01055

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Funerary inscriptions

Χριστέ, βοή-
θι, ἀρχάνγε-
λε Μιχαήλ,
β(οήθ)ι τοῖς δού-
λοις <σ>ου Εὐσ-
ταθίου (κὲ) Τ-
εύχρου

'Christ, help! Archangel Michael, help your servants Eustathios and Teukros!'

Text: Bean & Mitford 1970, no. 223.

Non Liturgical Activity

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Other lay individuals/ people
Merchants and artisans

Source

Inscription engraved on the rock-face, above the entrance to a rock-cut tomb located outside the modern town of Ermenek (ancient Germanikopolis, Isauria, south-eastern Asia Minor), opposite a monastery. The text is framed within a tabula ansata. Next to the present text there is another inscription with an invocation of Christ and a request for the protection of the artisans who had built the tomb.

Discussion

The two people mentioned in the inscription are apparently the deceased buried in the tomb.

Dating: probably 6th c. or later (based on the occurrence of the 'servant-of-saint' formula and on the style of the lettering).

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. Erm 5.

Bean, G.E., Mitford, T.B., Journeys in Rough Cilicia 1964-1968 (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien, Akademie der Wissenschaften, Denkschriften der philosophisch-historischen Klasse 102, Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1970), no. 223.

Further reading:
Bulletin épigraphique (1972), 547.

Record Created By

Pawel Nowakowski

Date of Entry

04/01/2016

Related Saint Records

ID	Name	Name in Source	Identity
S00181	Michael, the Archangel	Μιχαήλ	Certain

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Pawel Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E01055 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E01055

The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world

Greek inscription, engraved over the entrance to a rock-cut tomb, with an invocation of Christ and *Michael (the Archangel, S00181), asked to help his servants. Found at Germanikopolis (Isauria, southern Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.

E01055

Inscriptions - Funerary inscriptions

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Other lay individuals/ people
Merchants and artisans

Source

Discussion

Bibliography

Pawel Nowakowski

04/01/2016

Greek inscription, engraved over the entrance to a rock-cut tomb, with an invocation of Christ and *Michael (the Archangel, S00181), asked to help his servants. Found at Germanikopolis (Isauria, southern Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.

E01055

Inscriptions - Funerary inscriptions

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Other lay individuals/ people Merchants and artisans

Source

Discussion

Bibliography

Pawel Nowakowski

04/01/2016

Other lay individuals/ people
Merchants and artisans