E01115: Carving of an inscribed cross, with an invocation of *Michael (the Archangel, S00181). Found in Ephesos (western Asia Minor). Probably late antique.

A marble plaque with carving of a cross with inscribed arms. In four sections of the plaque, delimited by the arms of the cross, there are carved grape vines, doves and ivy. Found in a private house; first published by Dieter Knibbe.

Inscriptions:

A (on the upper vertical arm of the cross):

ἅ[γι]|ε [Μι]|χαὴ|λ, βο|ήθη|σον | Μαρ|γαρ|ήτῃ.

B (on the horizontal arm of the cross):

νικᾷ ἡ τύχη τῆς πόληος. | Κ(υρίο)υ καλὰ σημε̣ῖα σ̣οι ̣ἆ̣ρ[ον]

C (on the lower vertical arm of the cross):

κὲ τοῦ|τον | τὸν | ἀ̣γῶ|ναν νικ|ᾷς κὲ | σ|τεφ|ανο|ῦσε· | ἔνβ|α, νίκα, πε|δά|ριν, | θεὸ|ν ̣ἔχ|ις με|τ' ἐσ|ο̣ῦ

σ|τεφ|ανο|ύσε = σ|τεφ|ανο|ῦσαι Engelmann, σ|τεφ|άνο|υς <ε> Knibbe || πέ|δα, | οἴν|οεο|ν σχ|ίς μέ | τέ σ|̣ο̣υ Knibbe || πε|δά|ριν = παιδάριον Engelmann || με|τ' ἐσ|ο̣ῦ Engelmann, μέ|τέ σ|̣ο̣υ Knibbe

'Saint Michael, help Margarites! Long live the city (literally: May the fortune of the city be victorious)! Take up the beautiful signs of the Lord, win this competition and be crowned with wreaths! Come in, win, child, God is with you!'

Text: Engelmann 1973.