E00969: Two Greek inscriptions (a summary of a letter of the emperor Anastasius, and a poem) concerning the promotion of a town (almost certainly Euchaita) to the status of a city (polis), with the help of *Theodore (soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita, S00480). Found near Amaseia and Euchaita (Helenopontus, northern Asia Minor). 515-518.

Inscription 1:

A block of light grey stone. H. 0.72 m; W. 2.15 m; Th. 0.43 m.; letter height 0.045 m. The text is framed by a tabula ansata with christograms in the ansae. The lower part of the stone is decorated with a carving of an ivy vine growing out of a vase. Recorded in July 1963 by Cyril Mango and Ihor Ševčenko in the courtyard of a school in Mecitözü near Avkat (ancient Euchaita, Helenopontus, north-western Asia Minor), but probably originally displayed at the sanctuary of Theodore at Euchaita. The two scholars learned that it had been brought to Mecitözü in c. 1953.

+ ὁ ψήφῳ θ(εο)ῦ τῶν ὅλων κρατῶν Ἀναστάσιος εὐσεβὴς αὐτοκρά-
τωρ τόνδε τὸν ἱερὸν χῶρον πολίζι καὶ τὸ κάλλιον ἐνπνευσ-
θεὶς παρὰ τοῦ μάρτυρος ἐγίρει τῷ πολίσματει τεῖχος,
ἄσυλον μὲν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἣν πρῶτος αὐτὸν εἵδρυσεν
ἀρχιερατικὴν καθέδραν τηρῶν, ἄξιον δὲ δῶρον θ(ε)ῷ προσ-
ενέγκας καὶ μάρτυρας τῆς εὐσεβίας τοὺς εὖ παθόν-
τας πτωχούς. τοῦτον φυλάττοι Τριὰς ὁμοούσιος ἐν
τοῖς σκήπτροις νικητὴν ἀναδικνῦσα +

'+ The pious emperor Anastasius who rules the world by God's decree has made into a city this holy spot. Happily inspired by the Martyr, he has erected a wall for the city so as to preserve inviolate in all respects the archbishop's seat that he had been the first to found. He has offered God a worthy gift as well as a testimonial of his piety, namely the poor who have fared well (at his hands). May the consubstantial Trinity guard him and prove him victorious in his kingdom. +'

Text and translation (lightly modified): Mango & Ševčenko 1972, 380-381.

Inscription 2:

A block of grey stone, reused in the wall of a mosque. H. 0.93 m; W. 2.01 m; Th. 0.31 m. The text is framed by a tabula ansata. The upper left corner is missing. Found at Amasya (ancient Amaseia, Helenopontus, north-western Asia Minor), but probably originally displayed at the sanctuary of Theodore at Euchaita (near Amaseia). First published by Adolf Kirchhoff from a poor copy communicated to him before 1863 by Andreas David Mordtmann, Consul General of the Hanseatic cities at the High Porte in Constantinople. Later revisited by several scholars who made their own, better copies: Georges Perrot and Edmond Guillaume in 1861; R.P. Girard, a French missionary in Tokat, before 1895 (this copy was passed for publication to Théodore Reinach); and Henri Grégoire in 1907 (best copy, published by Grégoire together with Franz Cumont in 1910).

Here presented in verse form:

+ ὁ τοῦ Χ(ριστο)ῦ ἀθλητὴς καὶ τῶν ἐπουρανίων πολί|της
Θεόδωρος ὁ τοῦδε τοῦ πολίσματος ἔφορος |
̣Ἀν̣ασ̣τ̣άσιον ̣π̣ίθε̣ι ̣τὸν εὐσεβῆ τροπεοῦχον |
εἱδρῦσε ̣θρόν̣ον ἱερῶν μυστηρίων ἐπώνυμον· |
̣ο̣ὗπερ λαχὼν Μάμας ̣ὁ ̣καθαρότατος μύστης |
κινεῖ μὲν ἀεὶ τοῖς θεοτεύκτοις ἄσμασιν τὴν | γλῶτταν,
πλη̣ρῶν τῆς πνευματικῆς χορίας τό̣ν|δε τὸν τόπον,
ἕ̣λ̣κ̣ι ̣δὲ φιλοφροσύ̣ν̣η̣ν ̣ὡ̣ς | ̣ἑαυτὸν ἁπάν̣τ(ων) +

'+ Christ's athlete, who is a citizen of Heaven – Theodore, the guardian of this town, has persuaded Anastasius, the pious triumphator, to found a throne bearing the name of the holy mysteries. Mamas, the most-pure priest has obtained it; he constantly moves his tongue in divinely composed song while he fills this place of spiritual congregation, and attracts to himself the good-will of all men. +'

Text and translation: Mango & Ševčenko 1972, 382-383.