Bolnisi inscriptions

The Bolnisi inscriptions (Georgian: ბოლნისის წარწერები, romanized: bolnisis ts'arts'erebi) are the Old Georgian inscriptions written in the Georgian Asomtavruli script on the Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral, a basilica located in Bolnisi, Bolnisi Municipality, Georgia. The inscriptions are dated AD 493/494.^[1] The construction of the basilica commenced in AD 478/479.^[2] Bolnisi inscription yields the most explicit reference to Peroz I, the Shahanshah ("King of Kings") of the Sasanian Empire.^[3] Construction of the basilica might have been connected to the accession of Peroz; their builders being encouraged in their efforts by the imperial construction projects.^[4]

Bolnisi inscriptions
Inscription 1
Writing	Georgian script
Created	AD 494 (1530 years ago) (494)
Present location	Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi
Language	Old Georgian

Inscriptions

Inscription 1

ႵႤႣႧႤႮႨႱႩႭႮႭႱႨႩႰႤႡႭ ჃႪႨႧႭჃႰႧႣႠႠႫႠႱႤႩ ႪႤႱႨႠႱႠ bolnisi cross ႸႨႬႠႸႤႬႣ ႠႫႨႫႠ bolnisi cross ႰႧႧႠჃ ႷႠႬႨႱႫ bolnisi cross ႺႤႫႤႪ ႬႨႸႤႨႼႷ bolnisi cross ႠႪႤႬႣႠ ႫႸႰႭႫႤႪႧႠႠႫႠႱႤႩႪႤ ႱႨႠႱႠႸႨႬႠႸႤႾႤႼႨႤႨႨ

K(risṭ)e D(avi)t eṗisḳoṗosi ḳrebo- wlitowrt da amas eḳ- lesiasa šina šend- a mima rt taw- q̇anism- cemel- ni šeic̣q̇alen da mšromelta amas eḳle- siasa šina šexec̣ie ii[5]

Translation: Jesus Christ, have mercy on David the Bishop and those who built this church for your worship.^[6]

Inscription 2

Inscription 2

ႨႱႠႱႠႫႤႡႨႱႠჂႧႠႭႺႼႪႨႱႠႮႤႰႭႦႫႤႴ ႠႫႨႱႤႩႪႤႱႨႠჂႱႠჂႣႠႠႧႾႭჃႧႫႤႲႼႪႨႱ ႬႠႵႠႸႨႬႠႧႠჃႷႠႬႨႱႾႺႤႱႶႬႸႤႨႼႷႠႪႤႬႣႠႥႨႬႠ ႮႨႱႩႭႮႭႱႱႠႾႭჃႪႭႺႭႱႨႢႨႺႠႶႬႸႤႨႼႷႠႪႤ

[šec̣evnita c̣mid]isa samebisayta oc c̣lisa P̣eroz mep[isa ze] [xikmna dac̣q̇ebaj] amis eḳlesiajsaj da atxowtmeṭ c̣lis[a šemdgomad] [ganxešora vi]n aka šina tawq̇anis xces ġ(mertman) šeic̣q̇alen da vin a[mis eḳl] [esiajsa D(avi)t e] ṗisḳoṗossa xowlocos igica ġ(mertma)n šeic̣q̇alen [amēn][5]

Translation: With the mercy of Trinity, 20 years of reigning King Peroz when founded this church and 15 years thereafter it was completed. God have mercy who show reverence herein, and the builder of this church David the Bishop, and who pray for you, o God have mercy, Amen.^[7]

See also

• Bir el Qutt inscriptions
• Georgian graffiti of Nazareth and Sinai
• Umm Leisun inscription

References

1. Rapp, p. 213
2. Rapp, p. 183
3. Rapp, pp. 41-69
4. Rapp, p. 251
5. "TITUS Unicode Georgian Sample Texts". titus.uni-frankfurt.de.
6. Rapp, p. 39
7. Rapp, pp. viii-40

Bibliography

• Rapp, Stephen H. Jr. (2014) The Sasanian World through Georgian Eyes: Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature, Ashgate Publishing, ISBN 978-1-4724-2552-2