The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

[Peter Kirby]

This inscription shares text with Ephesians 5:14.

MAMA III 242b, Asia Minor: Cilicia and Isauria

δόξα σοὶ ὁ θ(εὸ)ς ὁ μόνος ἀθάνατος·
ἔγιρε ὁ καθεύδων ἐκ τῶν
νεκρῶν, [ἐπ]ιφα[ύ]σι σοι
ὁ Χριστός. ☩

Glory to you, O God, the only immortal one;
Arise, O sleeper, from the dead, [and]
Christ will shine upon you.

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/286108?hs=130-136

Compare Ephesians 5:14:

ἔγειρε ὁ καθεύδων καὶ ἀνάστα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ ἐπιφαύσει σοι ὁ Χς*
"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you."
* P46: ο χρς
* 01, 02, 03: ο χς

[Peter Kirby]

Anth.Gr. 1:92 (ca. 360-390), Asia Minor: Cappadocia

ἦν ὅτε Χριστὸς ἴαυεν ἐφ’ ὁλκάδος ἔμφυτον ὕπνον,
τετρήχει δὲ θάλασσα κυδοιμοτόκοισιν ἀήταις,
δείματί τε πλωτῆρες ἀνίαχον· "ἔγρεο, σῶτερ·
ὀλλυμένοις ἐπάμυνον." ἄναξ δὲ κέλευεν ἀναστὰς
ἀτρεμέειν ἀνέμους καὶ κύματα, καὶ πέλεν οὕτως·
θαύματι δὲ φράζοντο θεοῦ φύσιν οἱ παρεόντες.

It was when Christ (Χριστὸς) was calming the impetuous storm, and the sea, giving birth to laurel-bearing winds, was raging, and the sailors were in fear. "Awake, Savior! Help the perishing," they cried out. The Lord commanded, rising to calm the winds and waves, and the sea became tranquil in this way. The witnesses were marveling at the divine nature of the miracle.

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/287379?hs=201-207

[Peter Kirby]

I.Kourion 202 (ca. late 4th century), Cyprus ([IG XV]): unspecified subregion

ἀντὶ λίθων μεγάλων, ἀντὶ στερεοῖο σιδήρου
χαλκοῦ τε ξανθοῖο καὶ αὐτοῦ ἀντ’ ἀδάμαντος
<ο>ἵδε δόμοι ζώσαντο πολύλλιτα σήματα Χριστοῦ.

Instead of large stones, instead of solid iron, bronze and even adamant itself, these buildings have come to life with diverse symbols of Christ.

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/208609?hs=175-181

[Peter Kirby]

SEG 41:1485bis[1] (ca. 4th century), Cyprus ([IG XV]): unspecified subregion

[ὁρκίζω σε ὀνόμα]-
[τι τοῦ] Ναζωραίου,
[τ]οῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
[κ(αὶ) τῶ]ν ἁγίων ἀπ-
[οστόλ]ων αὐτοῦ,
[κ(αὶ) τῶν ἀνγ]έλλων
[αὐτοῦ, ἐξελθεῖν, κτλ.].

[ I adjure you by the name ]
[of the] Nazarene,
of Jesus Christ,
[and] His holy ap-
[ostl]es,
[and His] angels,
[ to go forth, etc. ].

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/304253?hs=89-95

[Peter Kirby]

Michaelides, Cypriot Mosaics 33,34 [ca. 350-400], Cyprus ([IG XV]): unspecified subregion

Χριστὲ βοήθει
τῷ ψηφώσαν-
τει.

Christ, help the voter.

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/313716?hs=43-49

[Leucius Charinus]

NOTE: Corpus inscriptionum Graecarum (or its descendents) should be searchable today in 2024.
Who can confirm what this 1880 author has to say above?

Easily verified:

That and the further posts on the epigraphy are quite impressive.
Thanks for the effort.

[Peter Kirby]

Dura-Europos VIII,2 95,17 (ca. 225-250), Greater Syria and the East: Mesopotamia

τὸν Χρισ(τόν). μνήσκεστε {²⁶μνήσκεσθε}²⁶
Σισε͂ον {²⁶Σ(ε)ισαῖον}²⁶ τὸν ταπι-
      νόν.

"... the Christ. Remember Siseon, the humble."

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/306490?hs=40-48

This early inscription shows abbreviation by suspension, with the first four letters.

For some other inscriptions in Syria showing an abbreviation by suspension with the first four letters, see also: IGLSyr 4 1870, IGLSyr 4 1732, IGLSyr 4 1418, and IGLSyr 2 432. An abbreviation by suspension with three letters can also be observed sometimes; for example, IGLSyr 4 1552 and IGLSyr 5 2546.

A supralinear stroke is shown in the final report, and it can be noted the presence of absence of one doesn't significantly affect the interpretation of the inscription.

finalreport.jpg (84.01 KiB) Viewed 304 times

The presence of a supralinear stroke is occasionally controverted, with reference to the preliminary report: https://www.academia.edu/38115589/The_R ... ra_Europos

[Peter Kirby]

NOTE: Corpus inscriptionum Graecarum (or its descendents) should be searchable today in 2024.
Who can confirm what this 1880 author has to say above?

Easily verified:

That and the further posts on the epigraphy are quite impressive.
Thanks for the effort.

Thank you! Your website will also be useful to review: http://mountainman.com.au/essenes/epigraphic_habit.htm , http://mountainman.com.au/essenes/ante% ... review.htm , http://mountainman.com.au/essenes/chres ... ristos.htm , http://mountainman.com.au/essenes/chres ... stians.htm , etc.

Recently, in this thread, I've just been searching the PackHum database and filtering on stuff marked as 4th century or earlier.

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 315 (ca. 337), Greater Syria and the East: Syria and Phoenicia

☩ εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς σὺν Χριστῷ αὐτοῦ· ἔτ|ους ημχʹ, Ξανδ<ι>κοῦ ιʹ.
φιλοκαλίᾳ Βάσσου βαιᾷ ἐκ τῶν τοῦ
θεοῦ. μνησθῇ Μαρώνας λιθοτόμος.

"Blessed be God with His Christ (Χριστῷ). In the year 648*, Xandikos, 10th. With the loving care of Basso, swiftly from the things of God. May Maronas, the stonecutter, be remembered."

* According to the Seleucid era, beginning 312/311 BCE.

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242389?hs=52-58

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 381 (ca. 387) = SEG 1:506 (ca. 387), Greater Syria and the East: Syria and Phoenicia

ἔτου<ς> ελυʹ, μ(ηνὸς) Λ(ῴου).
ζοή, ὑγία.
Χριστέ, βοήθησον
Ἀντιόχῳ κὲ Θεοφίλ(ᾳ) {²⁷Θεοφίλ(ῳ)?}²⁷.

"In the year 435*, month of Loios. Life, health. Christ (Χριστέ), help Antiochos and Theophilos."

* According to the Antiochene era, beginning 49/48 BCE.

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242455?hs=99-105
source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/320423?hs=74-80