DOI Artikel:
Twardecki, Alfred: Greek Christian Inscriptions in the Collections of the national Museum in Warsaw
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18949#0006
1. Epitaphe of Martyria,
Constantinople,
5lh-6,h century,
Warsów,
Muzeum Narodowe
a certain degree) on the type of beliefs of the inhabitants of Constantinople
and its vicinities.
The first of the above mentioned inscriptions (cat. no. 7; inv. no. 198800)
is on the tombstone of Marcella deceased shortly after her birth (4th century),
whose mother - Dionysia was still alive in the time of raising the monument
by Augustinos, surely the girl’s father. Marcella was buried in a tomb of
Glykea; most probably her paternal grandmother. The inscriptions consists
of formulas that prove Marcella’s baptism (7tap0evoę %pr|<JUavfl ćtTtÓ
piKpÓ0ev) - that happened immediately after her birth and was not that
obvious at the time. Further inscriptions are: tombstone of Thimotheos
(6th-7th century) from the place of Konana (Iustinianopolis; cat. no. 8; inv. no.
198831) and Theodora’s from Claudiopolis (5th—6rh century; cat. no. 9;
inv. no. 198742) which were very common at the time. In the next inscription
- tombstone of Martyria (5th-6th century; cat. no. 10; inv. no. 198782, ill. 1)
we find the term (7tiaxf|) meaning that the deceased woman was baptised
contrary to the woman said to be KaTE^OUJieyri. It is a proof for the type
of piety according to which baptism was very often saved for the last
moment of people’s lives. Since baptism washes away all the previous sins,
people considered to be worthy of being baptised right before death. That
was the reason for a large number of so called catechumen who, even
though they might be pious Christians, were not baptised until death.
Another monument is an epitaph of Theodotos (5th-6th century; cat. no. 11;
inv. no. 198794, ill. 2). There is a very curious mention in the inscription
referring to a Golden Crown that Theodotos was given after his death by
4
Constantinople,
5lh-6,h century,
Warsów,
Muzeum Narodowe
a certain degree) on the type of beliefs of the inhabitants of Constantinople
and its vicinities.
The first of the above mentioned inscriptions (cat. no. 7; inv. no. 198800)
is on the tombstone of Marcella deceased shortly after her birth (4th century),
whose mother - Dionysia was still alive in the time of raising the monument
by Augustinos, surely the girl’s father. Marcella was buried in a tomb of
Glykea; most probably her paternal grandmother. The inscriptions consists
of formulas that prove Marcella’s baptism (7tap0evoę %pr|<JUavfl ćtTtÓ
piKpÓ0ev) - that happened immediately after her birth and was not that
obvious at the time. Further inscriptions are: tombstone of Thimotheos
(6th-7th century) from the place of Konana (Iustinianopolis; cat. no. 8; inv. no.
198831) and Theodora’s from Claudiopolis (5th—6rh century; cat. no. 9;
inv. no. 198742) which were very common at the time. In the next inscription
- tombstone of Martyria (5th-6th century; cat. no. 10; inv. no. 198782, ill. 1)
we find the term (7tiaxf|) meaning that the deceased woman was baptised
contrary to the woman said to be KaTE^OUJieyri. It is a proof for the type
of piety according to which baptism was very often saved for the last
moment of people’s lives. Since baptism washes away all the previous sins,
people considered to be worthy of being baptised right before death. That
was the reason for a large number of so called catechumen who, even
though they might be pious Christians, were not baptised until death.
Another monument is an epitaph of Theodotos (5th-6th century; cat. no. 11;
inv. no. 198794, ill. 2). There is a very curious mention in the inscription
referring to a Golden Crown that Theodotos was given after his death by
4