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The epigraphic
monuments are some of the most interesting and reliable historical
documents. They can be viewed as witnesses of ages long past because
they can tell stories about socially significant events. What is more,
they can tell stories about the personal life of individuals. Most
importantly, they help clarify numerous linguistic issues.
At present, as a
result of completed excavations, the Veliki Preslav NHARM (National Historical-Archeological Reserve-Museum) has at its disposal a
rich collection of inscriptions. Original Cyrillic, Glagolitic and
Greek inscriptions, daing back to the 10th
century can be seen in the exposition of the museum as well as
throughout the territory of the reserve (usually scribbled on the walls of
the Round Church and the eastern fortress wall).
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INSCRIPTION OF
MOSTICH - second quarter of the 10th century |
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It was discovered
in a secondarily used grave in the so-called Church of Mostich in the
area of Selishte ('The Settlement ' in Bulgarian. An area near the old
town).
The epitaph reads:
“Here lies Mostich who was Ichargubilia in rank during the regn
of Tsar Simeon and Tsar Petar. At the age of eighty he resigned from
the post of Ichargubilia and became a monk. And ended his life.”
What we can learn
from the text is that still in his lifetime he was a higher-ranking
official-Ichargubilia. The name of his rank is actually a
Slavonic form of the popular from an earlier title - ichirgu
boila. We will never know whether Mostich was forced to resign
from his post and property or his deed was the result of his own pious
will.
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INSCRIPTION OF
TUDORA - early 10th century |
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It was found near
the Round Church
“"I am Tudora’s
grave, God’s servant. Reaching from this stone (are)……… . . . . . . elbows to the
wall.”
The inscription
represents an interesting epitaph and serves as proof for some
changes in old-Bulgarian language during the first half of the 10th century.
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INSCCRIPTIONS ON
CERAMIC PIECES |
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They were found in
the Church of Mostich
The names of eight
Orthodox saints are written in Cyrillic. They were found together with
bones and metal casings in a tomb chamber near the altar of the
church. The inscriptions looked very much like labels for boxes in
which saints’ relics (reliquaries) were kept.
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AN INSCRIPTION
FROM CHERNOGLAVCI (A VILLAGE NEAR SHUMEN) |
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It was found by T.
Balabanov during excavations of a monastery site dating back to 9th-10th c.
The text is in
Greek and the translation reads: “ The cross, which is the image of
its creator, narrows the power of the dragon (symbolizing the Satan).
The image that is so craved (worthy of being craved) though being
desecrated and destroyed.
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INSCRIPTIONS ON
THE PALACE MONASTERY PLASTER - 10th century |
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The
inscriptions, which were probably cut with an edge in the already dry
plaster, contain the two names ΘΕΟΔΟΡ (Teodor/Theodore) and ΠΕΘΡΟΣ (Petros/Peter). The affixation of
the second name suggests that the inscriptions are Greek. |