The X-Files: Chrēstos / Christos / Χρειστος

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 386 (ca. 406/407)

ἤτους ενυʹ. εἷς θεὸς κὲ ὁ Χριστός.

"In the year 455*, one God and the Christ (Χριστός)."

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242460?hs=54-60

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 389 (ca. 372), Greater Syria and the East: Syria and Phoenicia

[εὐ]θῖ<α> {²⁶εὐθεῖα}²⁶ ζωῆς ὁδός <ἐσ>[τιν].
[ἐπὶ Ἀ]<ν>τιόχο[υ] τοῦ <ἐπ>ισ[κόπου].
                 Μάρις περιοδε̣υ̣[τής].
εἷς θεὸς
καὶ ὁ Χριστ-
ὸς αὐτοῦ
ὁ βοηθῶν.
ἔτους κυʹ, μη(νὸς) Λῴο̣[υ —ʹ].

"The straight path of life is near Antiochus the bishop. - Maris the traveler"

"The one God and his Christ (Χριστὸς), the Helper. In the year 420*, the month of Loios."

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242463?hs=208-214

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 391 (ca. 363, or 563?), Greater Syria and the East: Syria and Phoenicia

εἷς θεὸς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ βο-
ηθῶν Μαριανῷ καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ.
βοήθι Μαριάδην κὲ Σαακωναν τοὺς
ἀρχιτέκτονας. ἐτελιόθη ἐν μηνὶ Ξανδικοῦ, τοῦ αιυ̣ʹ {²⁷αιχ̣ʹ?}²⁷
ἔτος.

One God and His Christ (Χριστὸς), the Helper. To Marianos and his children. Help Maríades and Saakonan, the master builders. This was completed in the month of Xandikos, in the year 411* [611?].

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242465?hs=104-110

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 400 (ca. 407)

εἷς θεὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς αὐτοῦ
καὶ τὼ Ἅγιων Πνεῦμα.
ἔτους ενυʹ, μη-
νὸς Πανέμου
θκʹ. Κύριε ὡ θε-
ώς, βωήθι Μαρ-
τύριν καὶ τοῖς τέ-
κνοις αὐτοῦ Ω-
ΤΙΦ {²⁷ὥτι (= ὅτι) φ(ιλοῦσίν σε)?}²⁷.

"One God and His Christ (Χριστὸς) and the Holy Spirit. In the year 455*, month of Panemos, the 29th. Lord, O God, help Martin and his children [because they love you?]."

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242474?hs=44-50

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 432 (ca. 421)

ὁ θεὸς κὲ ὁ
Χρι(στό)ς. ἔτο-
υς θ̣ξυʹ, μην-
[ὸς Πανή]<μ>ου ει#⁸⁰ʹ.

"God and Christ. In the year 469* , month of Panemos, the 15th day."

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242506?hs=38-48

The editor interprets this as abbreviation by contraction (first three letters + the last), but it could also be abbreviation by suspension (first four letters). Either way, this form of the abbreviation includes an iota, similar to the inscription seen earlier, Dura-Europos VIII,2 95,17 (ca. 225-250). This inscription was found in Antioch; both are in the Syrian region.

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 477 (ca. 407)

εἷς θεός, καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς αὐτοῦ. ἔτους ενυʹ, Ἀρτ(εμισίου).
Ῥουφινιανὸς πρεσβύτερος ἐποίησεν.

"One God, and His Christ (Χριστὸς). In the year 455*, (month of) Art(emisios). Rufinianos the elder made it."

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242553?hs=42-48

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 518 (ca. 341 / 342), Greater Syria and the East: Syria and Phoenicia

εἷς θεὸς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς αὐτοῦ. ἔτους ϟτ.

"One God, and His Christ (Χριστὸς). In the year 390*."

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242595?hs=41-47

[Leucius Charinus]

Dura-Europos VIII,2 95,17 (ca. 225-250)

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

Using a supralinear stroke, this early inscription shows abbreviation by suspension, with the first four letters.

There is also a second Graffito at Dura in addition to the Sisaeus Graffito::
This is the Proclus Graffito: ΤΟΝ ΧΝ ΙΝ ΥΜΕΙΝ ΜΝ[Η]CΚΕC[ΘΕ] [ΠΡ]ΟΚΛΟΥ

Neither show a supra-linear stroke in the Preliminary report by Clark Hopkins who, in the concluding section makes the suggestion that “Very possibly, however, in short inscriptions this line above was not considered necessary.”

This seems to indicate IMO that Hopkins did not in fact see any over-bars.
They do however appear in the Final Report.

For references and my further assessment of these two Graffiti see:
The Runes of Christ at Dura Europos
https://www.academia.edu/38115589/The_R ... ra_Europos

[Peter Kirby]

IGLSyr 2 535 (ca. 418)

εἷς θεὸς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα. εὐχὴ Παύλῳ καὶ
Μουσῇ {²⁶Μωυσῇ}²⁶. Διόδωρος πρεσβ(ύτερος). Κῦρος τ[εχνίτ]η[ς]. μηνὸς Λῴου εκʹ τοῦ ϛξυʹ.

"One God and His Christ and the Holy Spirit. Prayer for Paul and Moses. Presbyter Diodorus. Cyrus the craftsman. Month of Loios, 25th day of the 466th* year."

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

source: https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/242612?hs=46-52

[Peter Kirby]

Dura-Europos VIII,2 95,17 (ca. 225-250)

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

Using a supralinear stroke, this early inscription shows abbreviation by suspension, with the first four letters.

There is also a second Graffito at Dura in addition to the Sisaeus Graffito::
This is the Proclus Graffito: ΤΟΝ ΧΝ ΙΝ ΥΜΕΙΝ ΜΝ[Η]CΚΕC[ΘΕ] [ΠΡ]ΟΚΛΟΥ

Neither show a supra-linear stroke in the Preliminary report by Clark Hopkins who, in the concluding section makes the suggestion that “Very possibly, however, in short inscriptions this line above was not considered necessary.”

This seems to indicate IMO that Hopkins did not in fact see any over-bars.
They do however appear in the Final Report.

For references and my further assessment of these two Graffiti see:
The Runes of Christ at Dura Europos
https://www.academia.edu/38115589/The_R ... ra_Europos

I have now taken this into account as follows:

Dura-Europos VIII,2 95,17 (ca. 225-250)

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

With a supralinear stroke (in the final report), this early inscription shows abbreviation by suspension, with the first four letters.

finalreport.jpg

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

Overall, it doesn't seem super important either way (not even to the interpretation of this inscription).