Scarcely legible Greek inscription on a stone reliquary, possibly invoking the help of *Phokas (if so, probably the martyr of Antioch, S00413). Found at Karm Saddeh near Tripolis (Lebanon/Roman province of Phoenicia). Probably 5th or 6th c.
E04557
Archaeological and architectural - Extant reliquaries and related fixtures
Inscriptions - Inscribed objects
In his commentary on works discussing the reliquaries of Apamea (see E01829; E01832), René Mouterde mentions the inscribed lid of a stone reliquary from the village of Karm Saddeh, kept in a modern church. According to Mouterde's description, the lid comes from a reliquary shaped as a sarcophagus, is fitted with acroteria, and measures c. 0.40 m. There is no published image.
On the two narrow, gable sides there are busts of respectively: a male figure with nimbus (Christ or a saint), and another unidentified person.
One of the wide sloping sides bears a carving of a cross and three holes, possibly for pouring in oil or inserting a rod. The other side is decorated with a carving of a cross within a circle, flanked by ornaments.
The inscription runs on band at the bottom of the lid, where it once conjoined the chest of the reliquary. Letter height c. 0.015 m.
ΑΓ · ΦΩ · ΛΒΓΕΩΡΓ – ΑΙΒΛΟΜΗΤ
This is interpreted by Mouterde as:
ἅγ(ιε) Φω[κ]ᾶ, β(οήθει) Γεωργ(ίῳ) [κ]αὶ β(οήθει) Δομητ[ίῳ]
'O Saint Phokas, help Georgios, and help Dometios!'
Mouterde points out that Phokas was also venerated near Tripolis in Orthosia, where his relics were discovered together with those of a certain Loukas and Romanos ($EXXXX, Life of Peter the Iberian).
Dating: Based on the shapes of letters, Mouterde tentatively dates the inscription to the 6th c.
Prayer/supplication/invocation
RelicsReliquary – institutionally owned
Contact relic - oil
Making contact relics
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesOther lay individuals/ people
Bibliography
Edition:Mouterde, R., "[Review: F. Mayence, La quartième campagne de fouilles à Apamée...; H. Delehaye, Saints et reliquaires d'Apamée...", Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph 19 (1935), 130-132.
Paweł Nowakowski
04/01/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00413 | Phokas, martyr of Antioch | Φωκᾶς | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E04557 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E04557