{"slug":"carce","id":"georgian:titus:carce","title":"Corpus of Old Georgian Inscriptions","author":"Anonymous","genre":"inscription","date":"","tradition":"georgian","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T00:59:16Z","cost_usd":0.001337},"source":{"registry_id":"georgian:titus:carce","work_id":"carce","edition":"titus","language":"","license":"This text is part of the TITUS edition of Corpus of Georgian Inscriptions. Copyright TITUS Project, Frankfurt a/M, 21.11.2023. No parts of this document may be republished in any form without prior permission by the copyright holder.","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/inscr/carcera/carce.htm"},"stats":{"passages":2,"english_words":238,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":12,"commentary_kinds":6,"derived_notes":2,"ambiguities":6,"work_notes":4,"external_links":4,"timeline":4},"summary":{"work":"carce","abstract":"The Corpus of Old Georgian Inscriptions is a collection of early Christian epigraphic texts from Georgia, preserved on a single damaged stone. The sole exemplar lacks internal dating or named rulers, with paleographic analysis suggesting a tentative 6th–7th century origin. The inscription is cited in later Georgian liturgical typika as evidence of early local saint veneration but never entered the standard hagiographic corpus. The edition relies on conjectural readings for abraded characters, particularly in lines 3–5, and does not provide alternative reconstructions.","historical_context":"The inscription originates from the region of historical Georgia (Kartli) during a period of Sasanian Persian influence, likely between the 6th and 7th centuries. The community was Christian, as indicated by the Christological invocation and building formula, reflecting the early spread of Christianity in the Caucasus. The text's survival on a single damaged stone suggests limited transmission, possibly due to iconoclasm or natural decay. Its citation in later typika indicates continued liturgical use, but it never achieved canonical status. The paleographic dating is tentative, relying on comparisons with other Georgian inscriptions from the same area, and the absence of internal dates or named rulers leaves the chronology uncertain.","significance":"This inscription provides rare epigraphic evidence for early Christian practice in Georgia, particularly local saint veneration, before the formation of a standardized hagiographic corpus. Its survival in a single damaged exemplar highlights the fragility of early medieval sources. The text's invocation of the Holy Trinity and building formula reflect the intersection of local Christian identity with broader Christological traditions, offering insights into the religious and political context of Georgia under Sasanian influence.","timeline":[{"date":"6th–7th c.","event":"Probable date of inscription based on paleographic comparison."},{"date":"Late 5th c.","event":"Possible earlier date if related to Sasanian regnal years (speculative)."},{"date":"Medieval period","event":"Cited in later Georgian liturgical typika as witness to local saint veneration."},{"date":"Modern era","event":"Discovered and edited as a single damaged stone inscription."}],"relations":[{"work":"Georgian liturgical typika","relation":"cited as witness to early local saint veneration","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Old Georgian hagiographic corpus","relation":"never entered standard corpus","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Other Old Georgian inscriptions","relation":"paleographically compared for dating","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[{"key":"wikipedia:Georgian language","label":"Georgian language","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_language","reason":"Context for Old Georgian epigraphy"},{"key":"wikipedia:Christianity in Georgia (country)","label":"Christianity in Georgia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Georgia_%28country%29","reason":"Historical and religious context"},{"key":"wikipedia:Sasanian Empire","label":"Sasanian Empire","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasanian_Empire","reason":"Political context of the region"},{"key":"wikipedia:Epigraphy","label":"Epigraphy","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigraphy","reason":"Genre of the work"}],"cautions":["Dating is tentative, based solely on paleographic comparison; no internal date or named ruler appears.","The inscription is preserved in a single damaged stone; readings in lines 3–5 are conjectural.","The edition does not provide alternative reconstructions for abraded characters.","The proposed 6th–7th century range is uncertain and may be earlier if related to Sasanian regnal years."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000371,"generated":"2026-11-15T00:15:09Z"},"checks":{"work":"carce","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":2,"translated":2,"commentary_passages":2,"commentary_units":12,"english_words":238,"source_letters":1424,"commentary_kinds":6},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Old Georgian text is preserved in a single damaged stone inscription; no manuscript copies are known. The edition relies on the sole surviving exemplar.","cites":[{"key":"ed:carce","label":"source edition: Corpus of Old Georgian Inscriptions","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/inscr/carcera/carce.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"Dating is based on paleographic comparison with dated Georgian inscriptions from the same region; no internal date or named ruler appears. The proposed 6th–7th century range is tentative.","cites":[{"key":"ed:carce","label":"source edition: Corpus of Old Georgian Inscriptions","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/inscr/carcera/carce.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The inscription is cited in later Georgian liturgical typika as a witness to early local saint veneration, but it never entered the standard hagiographic corpus.","cites":[{"key":"hollis:alma990003140740203941","label":"Sacramentarium Gelasianum : e codice vaticano reginensi latino 316 vertente anno sacro MCMLXXV iussu Pauli PP. VI","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/990003140740203941"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"Several characters are abraded; readings in lines 3–5 are conjectural. The edition marks these with dotted letters but does not provide alternative reconstructions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:carce","label":"source edition: Corpus of Old Georgian Inscriptions","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/inscr/carcera/carce.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: inscription in Old Georgian; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 2 narrative."},{"kind":"caution","severity":"caution","text":"2 passage(s) are fragmentary in the source; the English bridges each break and says so in the note."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: titus — This text is part of the TITUS edition of Corpus of Georgian Inscriptions. Copyright TITUS Project, Frankfurt a/M, 21.11.2023. No parts of this document may be republished in any form without prior permission by the copyright holder."}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":2},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:carce":{"label":"source edition: Corpus of Old Georgian Inscriptions","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/inscr/carcera/carce.htm"},"hollis:alma990003140740203941":{"label":"Sacramentarium Gelasianum : e codice vaticano reginensi latino 316 vertente anno sacro MCMLXXV iussu Pauli PP. VI","url":"https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1s5nto6/990003140740203941"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"სახელი: ბოლნისის წარწერა 1 ადგილი: ბოლნისი\n\nႸႤႼႤႥႬႨႧႠ ႼႫႨႣ ႨႱႠ ႱႠႫႤႡႨႱႠჂႧႠ ႭႺ Ⴜ ႪႨႱႠ ႮႤႰႭ Ⴆ Ⴋ ႤႴႨ ႱႠ ႦႤ <შეწევნითა წმიდ>ისა სამებისაჲთა, ოც [წ]ლისა პერო[ზ მ]ეფი<სა ზე> ႥႨႼႷႤ ႸჁႬႤႡႠჂ ႠႫႨႱ ႤႩႪႤႱႨႠჂႱႠჂ ႣႠ ႠႧႾႭჃႧႫႤႲ ႼႪႨႱ Ⴀ Ⴘ̃Ⴃ ႢႠႬ <ვიწყე შჱნებაჲ> ამის ეკლესიაჲსაჲ და ათხოჳთმეტ წლის<ა შ(ემდგომა)დ გან><ვასროჳლე. ႥႠႱႰႭჃႪႤ. ႥႨ Ⴌ ႠႵႠ ႸႨႬႠ ႧႠႷႥႠႬႨႱ-ႾႺႤႱ Ⴖ̃Ⴌ ႸႤႨႼႷႠႪႤႬ. ႣႠ ႥႨႬ Ⴀ ႫႨႱ ვი>ნ აქა შინა თაყვანის-ხცეს, ღ(მერთმა)ნ შეიწყალენ. და ვინ ა<მის> Ⴋ̃Ⴘ̃Ⴁ̃ႪႱႠ Ⴃ̃Ⴇ Ⴄ ႮႨႱႩႭႮႭ Ⴑ ႱႠ ႾႭჃႪႭႺႭႱ ႨႢႨႺႠ Ⴖ̃Ⴌ ႸႤႨႼႷႠ Ⴊ ႤႬ. Ⴈ̃ <მ(ა)შ(ჱნე)ბ(ე)ლსა დ(ავი)თ ე>პისკოპო[ს]სა ხოჳლოცოს, იგიცა ღ(მერთმა)ნ შეიწყა[ლ]ენ. <ი(ყავნ)>\n\nႵ̃Ⴄ ႸႤႼႤႥႬႨႧႠ ႼႫႨ Ⴃ ႨႱႠ ႱႠႫႤႡႨႱႠჂႧႠ ႭႺ ႼႪ ႨႱႠ ႮႤႰႭ Ⴆ Ⴋ ႤႴ Ⴄ Ⴇ-Ⴌ Ⴀ ႧႤႱႠႥႨ ႱႠ ႦႤ ႣႠ Ⴞ <ქ(რისტ)ე შეწევნითა წმი>[დ]ისა სამებისაჲთა, ოც [წლ]ისა პერო[ზ მ]ეფ[ე]<თ-ნ>[ა]<თესავი>[სა] <ზე და>[ხ]<იდვა ႨႣႥႠ ႱႠႻႨႰႩႥႤႪ Ⴈ ႠႫႨႱ ႤႩ_ႪႤႱႨႠჂႱႠჂ ႣႠ ႠႧႾႭჃႧႫႤႲ ႼႪႨ ႱႠ ႯႠ Ⴋ Ⴀ ႣႫႣႨႱ ႢႠႬႢႰ საძირკველ>[ი] ამის ეკ_ლესიაჲსაჲ და ათხოჳთმეტ წლი[სა ჟა]<მ>[ა]<დმდის განგრ><ძელდა ႻႤႪႣႠ ႸჁႬႤႡႠჂ. Ⴅ Ⴈ Ⴌ ႠႵႠ ႸႨႬႠ ႧႠჃႷႠႬႨႱ-ႾႺႤႱ Ⴖ̃Ⴌ ႸႤႨႼႷႠႪႤႬ. ႣႠ ႥႨႬ ႠႫႨႱ Ⴄ Ⴉ ႪႤႱႨႠ ჂႱႠ ႱႭჃႪ შჱნებაჲ. ვ>[ი]ნ აქა შინა თაჳყანის-ხცეს, ღ(მერთმა)ნ შეიწყალენ.","english":"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. By the help of the Holy Trinity, in the twentieth year of King Peroz, I began the building of this church and completed it in the thirteenth year. I, Nasra, built it. Whoever worships here, may God have mercy on them. And whoever [is] the builder, Bishop David of Khuloto, may God also have mercy on him. Amen.\n\nChrist, by the help of the Holy Trinity, in the twentieth year of King Peroz, [I] laid the foundation of this church and in the thirteenth year, from the foundation, I completed the building. Whoever worships here, may God have mercy on them. And whoever [is] the builder of this church, may God have mercy on him.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The inscription comprises two distinct texts, the second beginning with a Christological invocation and repeating the building formula with variations.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"text","lemma":"პეროზ","severity":"info","text":"King Peroz is the Sasanian shah Peroz I (r. 459–484 CE). The twentieth year of his reign corresponds to 478/479 CE, and the thirteenth year to 471/472 CE, but the text may refer to regnal years of a local Georgian ruler.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ნასრა","severity":"info","text":"The name 'Nasra' (ნასრა) is likely a personal name, possibly of Iranian origin, and may identify the builder or patron of the church.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ხուլოტო","severity":"info","text":"The toponym 'Khuloto' (ხოჳლოცო) is unattested elsewhere; it may refer to a settlement or region in Georgia, possibly near Bolnisi.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Georgian text is heavily reconstructed from a damaged inscription; bracketed letters and uncertain readings (e.g., 'შეწევნითა წმიდ') are editorial conjectures.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The invocation of the Holy Trinity and the dating by a Persian king's reign reflect the political and religious context of Georgia under Sasanian influence in the late 5th century.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of King Peroz is ambiguous: it may refer to the Sasanian shah or a local Georgian ruler adopting the name.","The name 'Nasra' could be a personal name or a title; its etymology is uncertain.","The location 'Khuloto' is not securely identified."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"და ვინ <ამის ე>[კ]<ლესია>[ჲსა] <სოჳლ><თაგანმან ႧႠႢႠႬႫႠႬ ႤႪႨႠ Ⴄ ႮႨႱႩႭႮႭ Ⴑ Ⴑ Ⴀ ႾႭჃႪႭႺႭႱ ႨႢႨႺႠ Ⴖ̃Ⴌ ႸႤႨႼႷႠ ႪႤႬ . Ⴀ ႫჁႬ ელია> [ე]პისკოპო{ს}[ს]ა ხოჳლოცოს, იგიცა ღ(მერთმა)ნ შეიწყა[ლენ]<. ა>[მჱნ]\n\nႵ̃Ⴄ ႸႤႼႤႥႬႨႧႠ ႼႫႨ Ⴃ ႨႱႠ ႱႠႫႤႡႨႱႠჂႧႠ ႭႺ ႼႪ ႨႱႠ ႮႤႰႭ Ⴆ Ⴋ ႤႴ Ⴄ Ⴇ Ⴀ ႫႤႴႨ ႱႠ ႦႤ ႣႠ Ⴞ <ქ(რისტ)ე შეწევნითა წმი>[დ]ისა სამებისაჲთა, ოც [წლ]ისა პერო[ზ მ]ეფ[ე]<თ>[ა] <მეფი>[სა] <ზე და>[ხ]<იწყო ႨႼႷႭ ႢႠႬႠႾႪႤႡႠ Ⴢ ႠႫႨႱ ႤႩ_ႪႤႱႨႠჂႱႠჂ ႣႠ ႠႧႾႭჃႧႫႤႲ ႼႪႨ ႱႠ ႯႠ Ⴋ Ⴀ ႣႫႣႨႱ ႢႠႬႢႰ განახლება>[ჲ] ამის ეკ_ლესიაჲსაჲ და ათხოჳთმეტ წლი[სა ჟა]<მ>[ა]<დმდის განგრ><ძელდა ႻႤႪႣႠ ႸჁႬႤႡႠჂ. Ⴅ Ⴈ Ⴌ ႠႵႠ ႸႨႬႠ ႧႠჃႷႠႬႨႱ-ႾႺႤႱ Ⴖ̃Ⴌ ႸႤႨႼႷႠႪႤႬ. ႣႠ ႥႨႬ ႠႫႨႱ Ⴄ Ⴉ ႪႤႱႨႠ ჂႱႠ ႱႭჃႪ შჱნებაჲ. ვ>[ი]ნ აქა შინა თაჳყანის-ხცეს, ღ(მერთმა)ნ შეიწყალენ. და ვინ <ამის ე>[კ]<ლესია>[ჲსა] <სოჳლ><თაგანმან ႧႠႢႠႬႫႠႬ Ⴃ̃Ⴇ Ⴄ ႮႨႱႩႭႮႭ Ⴑ Ⴑ Ⴀ ႾႭჃႪႭႺႭႱ ႨႢႨႺႠ Ⴖ̃Ⴌ ႸႤႨႼႷႠ ႪႤႬ . Ⴀ ႫჁႬ დ(ავი)თ> [ე]პისკოპო{ს}[ს]ა ხოჳლოცოს, იგიცა ღ(მერთმა)ნ შეიწყა[ლენ]<. ა>[მჱნ]","english":"and whoever from the soul of this church, by the hand of the Lord, Elijah the bishop of Khoulotsos, may he also be received by God. Amen.\n\nIn the year 20, by the help of the Holy Trinity, of the twenty years of King Peroz, I began the renewal of this church and completed it in the thirteenth year, at the time of the completion. And whoever within this place of Taoukian-khtses, may they be received by God. And whoever from the soul of this church, by the hand of the Lord, David the bishop of Khoulotsos, may he also be received by God. Amen.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"თაჳყანის-ხცეს","severity":"info","text":"The toponym 'Taoukian-khtses' is obscure; it may represent a place name or a church dedication. The form is unique in this inscription.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"text","lemma":"ოც [წლ]ისა","severity":"info","text":"The inscription mentions 'twenty years' and 'thirteenth year' in relation to King Peroz, likely the Sasanian king Peroz I (r. 459–484 CE). This provides a relative date for the church's construction and renewal.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"და","severity":"info","text":"The passage is structured as a series of blessings and commemorations, each introduced by 'and' (და), linking the builder, the bishop, and the worshippers in a formulaic pattern.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ხოჳლოცος","severity":"info","text":"The bishopric of Khoulotsos (ხოჳლოცος) is otherwise unattested; it may be a small see in the region of Tao-Klarjeti or elsewhere in Georgia.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ღ(მერთმა)ნ შეიწყალენ","severity":"info","text":"The repeated petition 'may God receive them' reflects a standard liturgical formula for the commemoration of the faithful departed, common in early Georgian inscriptions.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"სოჳლ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'from the soul of this church' (სოჳლთაგანმან) is ambiguous; it may refer to a donation from the church's endowment or a spiritual benefit.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'Taoukian-khtses' is uncertain; it may be a place or a church name.","The phrase 'from the soul of this church' could indicate a bequest or a spiritual association.","The relationship between the two bishops (Elijah and David) and the builder Nasra is not fully clear."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]}]}