The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Peter Kirby »

After removing abbreviated Latin inscriptions and substituting translations.


EDCS-40400781 = ICUR-07, 20366 = RAC-1933-231,1 (ca. 201-300. Rome)
To Aurelia Flavia, the spouse of Maximus, in peace and in Christ (Cristo).

EDCS-33000119 = ICUR-07, 20389 = RAC-1933-230 (ca. 201-300, Rome)
On the 5th day before the Kalends of October, Celerina, aged 25 years, 6 months, and 11 days, in Christ (Crissto).

EDCS-33101433 = ICUR-09, 24407 = ILCV 03375d (ca. 251-300, Rome)
Fortunata, you will live in Christ (Crheto).

EDCS-31900339 = ICUR-09, 25962 = CLE 00730 = ILCV 02392 (add) = ICaRoma 00090 = Carletti-2008, 00036 = AE 2007, +00205 (ca. 251-300, Rome)
The Almighty Father spoke this when He expelled Adam: 'Taken from the earth, you shall return to the earth, O mortal.' Thus, the daughter named Agape and faithful to Christ (Crhist[ique]), having lived seventeen and twice ten years, rests. In Christ (Crhistum), her old age was so full. Pius is the father, and Eucharis is the mother to me. I beseech you, O brothers, to pray here when you come, and with fervent prayers, beseech the Father and the Son. May your beloved minds remember Agape, so that Almighty God may preserve Agape forever.

EDCS-22500149 = CIL 10, 07975 (p 997) = CIL 10, 07976 = SRD 00444 = SRD 00656 = Porra 00649 = AE 1982, 00440 (ca. 316, Sardinia, Terranoa / Olbia / Terranova / Terranova-Pausania)
Desiring the welfare of the cities, Titus Septimius Januarius, Governor of the province of Sardinia, devoted To His divine Majesty, [...]. Victor, minister of the holy church, Enter the most blessed place, in [ruin?] or virtue. In the name of Christ ([C]hri[s]ti), Tiberius Julius A., citizen of the city.

EDCS-26100422 = CIL 08, 20302 = ILCV 03247 = MEFR-1964-155 = AE 1912, +00009 (ca. 324, Mauretania Caesariensis, Ain el Kebira / Perigotville / Satafis)
[Jan]uariae / servant of Christ (Cristi) / lived in God for nearly 60 years / and she dedicated for herself / a sacred table of the saints / on the 8th day before the Kalends / of July, with Avianus Crescentius overseeing / in the 285th year of the province.

EDCS-32801907 = ICUR-06, 16438 (ca. 291 to 325, Rome)
To Restuta, well-deserving, she departed in peace in Christ (Christo), who lived eighteen years.

EDCS-10000231 = ILJug-01, 00131 = IJO-01-Dal, 00003 = Salona-04-01, 00069 = AE 1959, 00251 = AE 2005, 01187 (ca. 271-330, Dalmatia, Solin / Salona)
If anyone wishes to violate this tomb, may the offended deities be against him, whether he be Roman, Jew, or Christian (Crissi[ani]). Each should worship the gods or the one God according to his own beliefs; he must not act contrary to what he does not wish to be done to himself.

EDCS-30700301 = ICUR-08, 20752 = ILCV 01768 = CLE 00301 (p 855) = CLENuovo p 102 = Carletti-2008, 00154 = AE 2015, +00003 (ca. 337-350 or 326-375, Rome)
Constantina, venerating God and dedicated to Christ (Christoq), with all her resources and a devoted mind prepared, with the divine will and much help from Christ (Christoq), consecrated the temple of the victorious virgin Agnes. The temple, which surpasses all earthly things, with its golden pinnacles shining, celebrates the name of Christ (Christi) in these abodes. For he alone could overcome death, having descended to hell and triumphing alone, bearing the name of Adam and his body and all his members, lifted from the darkness of death and the blind night. Therefore, a worthy gift is endowed for the devoted martyr to Christ (Christo) from our possessions, through the long ages of darkness. O blessed virgin Agnes, with a name worth remembering, Constantina to God.

Third century inscriptions in Latin, including those with abbreviations, can be found here.

More Latin inscriptions of the fourth century can be found here. When the word is spelled out, the Latin inscriptions are fairly consistent in using the letter i, at a ratio of 132 (with letter i) to 10 (with 'e' or 'ae').
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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by davidmartin »

there seem slightly more Chrestos references than Christos
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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Peter Kirby »

davidmartin wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:55 am there seem slightly more Chrestos references than Christos
But one is fact and the other is speculation! Guess which?
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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Peter Kirby »

In a way I understand the "scorched earth" argument of trying to make it as hard as possible to admit of the appearance of the word "Christos" before a certain date. Arguing for this kind of strict chronological priority avoids having to deal with petty hypotheses about how the other word appears, as often and in the ways that it does, but doesn't really mean anything.
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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Peter Kirby »

Another abbreviation by suspension with the first four letters:

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/313548?hs=26-34
CIL III 10189(12) Epeiros, Illyria, and Dalmatia : Dalmatia
Χρισ(τός).

And another one.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/262348?hs=334-342
IK Rhod. Peraia 222
... Κ(ύρι)ε Ἰε(σο)ῦ Χρισ(τέ,) ἤ τις καταρῖτε ...

And another one.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/281606?hs=62-70
Sterrett, EJ 118,89
ἔρ(γον) καὶ Χρισ(τοῦ) καὶ ἁγίου

Another.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/281607?hs=63-70
Sterrett, EJ 118,89[2]
θ(εο)ῦ συνερ(γίᾳ) καὶ Χριστ̣(οῦ) καὶ Ἁγίου Π̣ν(εύματος)

Another.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/281933?hs=35-43
MAMA VIII 339
ἐν Χρισ(τῷ).

In addition to the Χρισ inscription, there's also this similar Xian inscription at Dura-Europos, starting with τὸν Χ(ριστὸ)ν:

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/306491?hs=40-48
τὸν Χ(ριστὸ)ν Ἰ(ησοῦ)ν ὑμεῖν. μν̣[ή]σκεσθε̣ [․․․ Πρ]όκλου.
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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Peter Kirby »

Just adding a missing inscription here.

MAMA I 382, Asia Minor: Galatia (ca. 375-450 AD)

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/266613?hs=603-609

☩ σῆμα τόδ’ ἄγλαιων κεκασμένυ πε͂-
δες ἄριστυ Πατροκλῆς καὶ Παῦλος ὁμο-
φρόνως θυμὸν ἀφῆκαν. αὐτὰρ πέδων
μέγα φῆμα ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμυσι λήσεθ’ ἐν
5 μερόπεσσιν τοκέων μένος αἶραν ἀνφοτέρων
τοκέων μαλακῶ δεδμημένυ ἄτης. αὐτὰρ
μέ<ν> μυ πε͂δες ἐσθλὺ ἐμοῦ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ
τόσσον περὶ πολλῆς ἄχος ἐδίμαντο τήνδ’ ὅ γε
τίθλον. κὲ γὰρ ἐμῆς φαλάμεσσιν πονησάμεν-
10 ος τόδε ἔργον, οὐ μὲν δὴ κροκοπέπλου ἐ-
νεπλήσθησαν ἐπέης οὐρανόθεν μέγα κῦδ-
ος· θεοῦ χάριν ἔλαβον αὐτύ, βασιλίην
οὐρανῶν Χριστῷ πανβασιλῖ χέροντες.
χε͂ρε, μάκαρ. κὲ γὰρ ἰς σὲ τέλος βιότυο κιχά-
15 νι· οὐ γὰρ ἐν μερόπῳ τοκέων χά-
ριν οὐκ ἐτέλε-
σαν. ☩

☩ This monument, adorned with radiant branches, marks the resting place of the excellent Patrocles and Paul, who harmoniously relinquished their spirits. But the great report of their deeds is firmly engraved in the pine-covered minds, lifting the courage of both parents and softening the pain of both mothers, gently tamed from the relentless grasp of grief. O, noble Patrocles, you have indeed pleased my grateful heart. They endured so much anguish for my sake, this heavy burden they bore. For in performing this deed for me, they did not receive worldly glory showered from the heavens. Rather, they received it by the grace of God, presenting the heavenly kingdom to Christ the all-embracing King. Hail, blessed ones. Indeed, you have reached the end of mortal life, for not in vain, for the sake of parents, did they fulfill their task. ☩

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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Secret Alias »

It might be useful (play on words) to see a chronological displacement of name usage. Not trying to put added pressure. Might be able to make a graph.
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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Peter Kirby »

Secret Alias wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 5:08 pm It might be useful (play on words) to see a chronological displacement of name usage. Not trying to put added pressure. Might be able to make a graph.
It's a good idea. I will do something like this.

I'm thinking of using two dimensions here to represent both chronology and geography.
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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Peter Kirby »

MAMA III 196 (ca. late 4th - 6th century), Asia Minor: Cilicia and Isauria

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/286049?hs=105-111

ὡδὸν {²⁶ὁδὸν}²⁶
    ἐντολο͂-
   ν σο̣υ ἔδ-
  ραμων {²⁶ἔδραμον}²⁶,
5   Χριστέ, μὴ [κ]ατεσ-
 χύνις {²⁶καταισχύνῃς}²⁶ με  τὸν [δοῦλ(όν) σου].
☩ ἔχι πρὸς θ̣(εό)ν, [ἴ] τις θί-
σι ἐπάνο {²⁶ἐπάνω}²⁶ μοῦ
τινα. ☩
10 in mediis versibus 4 et 5: crux

Christ, I have run in the way of your commandment; do not put me to shame, your servant. ☩ Face God, if anyone seeks to harm me.

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Re: The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

Post by Leucius Charinus »

Peter Kirby wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:37 pm Another abbreviation by suspension with the first four letters:

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/313548?hs=26-34
CIL III 10189(12) Epeiros, Illyria, and Dalmatia : Dalmatia
Χρισ(τός).

And another one.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/262348?hs=334-342
IK Rhod. Peraia 222
... Κ(ύρι)ε Ἰε(σο)ῦ Χρισ(τέ,) ἤ τις καταρῖτε ...

And another one.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/281606?hs=62-70
Sterrett, EJ 118,89
ἔρ(γον) καὶ Χρισ(τοῦ) καὶ ἁγίου

Another.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/281607?hs=63-70
Sterrett, EJ 118,89[2]
θ(εο)ῦ συνερ(γίᾳ) καὶ Χριστ̣(οῦ) καὶ Ἁγίου Π̣ν(εύματος)

Another.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/281933?hs=35-43
MAMA VIII 339
ἐν Χρισ(τῷ).

In addition to the Χρισ inscription, there's also this similar Xian inscription at Dura-Europos, starting with τὸν Χ(ριστὸ)ν:

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/306491?hs=40-48
τὸν Χ(ριστὸ)ν Ἰ(ησοῦ)ν ὑμεῖν. μν̣[ή]σκεσθε̣ [․․․ Πρ]όκλου.
Aside from the Dura graffito only one of these (other 9 in total) Χρισ inscriptions appears to be associated with a date. This is the inscription IGLSyr 2 432 (dated ca. 421). Is this correct?

Packhum Data
I also have a more general question about any of the inscriptions you have gathered (including the above) from the Packhum database which have been transcribed as "nomina sacra" of any format.


Do any of these Packhum inscriptions with "nomina sacra" exhibit supra-linear overbars? Or are they without these marks? I can't see them represented or discussed anywhere on the information from the Packhum database.

If not, are you aware of a site or repository anywhere that presents an image or a photograph of these [so the presence of supra-linear marks can be confirmed or otherwise] ? Or are we left to track down any scholarly articles that discuss these inscriptions on a one-by-one basis? Thanks.
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