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E04557: 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.

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posted on 2018-01-04, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski
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.

History

Evidence ID

E04557

Saint Name

Phokas, martyr of Antioch : S00413

Saint Name in Source

Φωκᾶς

Type of Evidence

Archaeological and architectural - Extant reliquaries and related fixtures Inscriptions - Inscribed objects

Language

  • Greek

Evidence not before

400

Evidence not after

600

Activity not before

400

Activity not after

600

Place of Evidence - Region

Syria with Phoenicia Syria with Phoenicia

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Tripolis Karm Saddeh

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Tripolis Thabbora Thabbora Karm Saddeh Thabbora Thabbora

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Other lay individuals/ people

Cult Activities - Relics

Reliquary – institutionally owned Contact relic - oil Making contact relics

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.

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    Evidence -  The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

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