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The Greek Inscription from Garni (Armenia) and King Tiridates the Great. Part I. Prolegomena
 
Title (other)Греческая надпись из Гарни (Армения) и царь Тиридат Великий
PIIS032103910017253-1-1
DOI10.31857/S032103910017253-1
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Alain Bresson 
Affiliation: The University of Chicago
Address: USA, Chicago (IL)
Elizabeth Fagan
Affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University
Address: USA, Richmond (VA)
Journal nameVestnik drevnei istorii
EditionVolume 82 Issue 3
Pages597-622
Abstract

Since the discovery at Garni (Armenia) in 1945 of a Greek inscription mentioning a king Tiridates (Trdat), there has been an ongoing debate on the identification of this king. On the basis of paleography and content, most scholars have preferred to date the document to the first-century CE reign of Tiridates I, despite what seemed to be a suggestive indication from the historian of Armenia Moses Khorenatsi that Tiridates the Great, in the early fourth century CE, had dedicated a Greek inscription in memory of his sister at Garni. This study attributes the inscription to the reign of Tiridates the Great, although it shows also that this text cannot be the one referred to by Moses Khorenatsi. This reattribution is of special importance for the early history of Armenia. It paves the way for a new analysis of the reign of the king who initiated the Christianization of the country. Our next article, in a forthcoming issue, will offer a new and full critical edition of the inscription, comparing it with prior reconstructions.

Abstract (other)

Со времени открытия в Гарни (Армения) в 1945 г. греческой надписи, в которой упоминается царь Тиридат (Трдат), ведутся постоянные споры об идентификации этого царя. Основываясь на палеографии и содержании текста, большинство ученых предпочитают датировать документ периодом правления Тиридата I в I в. н.э., несмотря на недвусмысленное указание историка Армении Мовсеса Хоренаци на то, что Тиридат Великий в начале IV в. н.э. посвятил греческую надпись в память о своей сестре в Гарни. В нашем исследовании мы относим надпись к царствованию Тиридата Великого, хотя очевидно также, что этот текст не может быть тем, на который ссылается Мовсес Хоренаци. Эта реатрибуция имеет особое значение для ранней истории Армении. Она открывает путь к новому анализу правления царя, инициировавшего христианизацию страны. Продолжение этой статьи, которое будет опубликовано в ближайшем номере ВДИ, предложит новое полное критическое издание надписи и сравнение его с предыдущими реконструкциями.

KeywordsArmenia, Garni, Tiridates the Great, Christianization, Agathangelos, Moses Khorenatsi
Keywords list (other)Армения, Гарни, Тиридат Великий, христианизация, Агафангел, Мовсес Хоренаци
Received16.06.2022
Publication date26.09.2022
Number of characters65956
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