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Thoughts on Two Mosaic Inscriptions in St Demetrios at Thessaloniki

Articles

• Βελένης, Γεώργιος Μ.
• ΒΕΛΕΝΗΣ, Γεώργιος

Two metrical inscriptions from the group of seventh-century mosaics are re-examined. These are the four-line inscription (A) that accompanies the representation of the donors on the south pier of the sanctuary (Figs 1-2), and the problematical inscription (B) of the small north colonnade (Fig. 3), in which mention is made of a renovation made after a fire. Inscription A. The presence of the dative case in the last word of the third line (CTOAQ) is noted and the following transcription is proposed: + Κτίστας θεωρείς τοϋ πανενδόξου δόμου εκείθεν ένθεν μάρτυρος Δημητρίου / τοϋ βάρβαρον κλύδωνα βαρβάρων στόλω μετατρέποντος κ(αί) πόλιν λυτρουμένου + (= You see the renovators of the most glorious church from one part and the other of the martyr Demetrios who turned the wild storm against the fleet of the barbarians and liberated the city.) From this new reading it emerges that the specific text is linked exclusively with that miracle which is described in the Second Book of Miracles and concerns the siege of Thessaloniki from the seaward side, which took place circa 614. Inscription B. The generally accepted transcription is adopted: + Έπί χρόνων Λέοντος ήβώντα βλέπεις / καυθέντα το πρίν τον ναόν Δημητρίου. The lack of synchronism between the prepositional definition of time επί χρόνων (= in the time of), which is usually used with the nuance of past time, and the present tense of the verb βλέπεις (you see), is discussed. Because of this difficulty, it is suggested that perhaps this is a peculiar epigram which is read as a chiasmus, taking into account however an implied participle which is omitted by poetic licence. Furthermore, a succession of three different times (past - momentary situation - present) could be assumed, that is in the way that Simplicius perceives the phenomenon of change an object undergoes in passing from one state to another. On the basis of this approach, the following interpretation is given: "The church of Demetrios which was built in the time of Leon you see now renovated after a fire". In this case, we propose the identification of the person mentioned as the Emperor Leon I or as Pope Leo the Great, which is considered more likely. The article concludes with some thoughts on the word ναός, which could mean both the basilica and the church-shaped ciborium (church within a church). In this way an answer is given to the question associated with the repetition of the portraits of the bishop and the deacon in two different places in the same building. Thus, the representation on the south pier of the bema denotes the first sponsorship and concerns the renovation of the basilica as a whole, while that on the small north colonnade attests the next sponsorship, the renovation of the church-shaped ciborium, which was made with the care of the same two clerics.

• History and Archaeology
• Arts

• Arts and religion

• http://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/deltion/article/view/4210
• http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/dchae.365