What do these Greek words say? Possibly 2nd century












3















Here is a very old (possibly 2nd century) depiction of the Crucifixion of Jesus on an engraved gem:



Crucifiction



What do the words say?



Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_in_the_arts#Late_Antiquity










share|improve this question







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Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • I do not see that the linked article says anything about this em.it

    – fdb
    yesterday
















3















Here is a very old (possibly 2nd century) depiction of the Crucifixion of Jesus on an engraved gem:



Crucifiction



What do the words say?



Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_in_the_arts#Late_Antiquity










share|improve this question







New contributor




Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





















  • I do not see that the linked article says anything about this em.it

    – fdb
    yesterday














3












3








3








Here is a very old (possibly 2nd century) depiction of the Crucifixion of Jesus on an engraved gem:



Crucifiction



What do the words say?



Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_in_the_arts#Late_Antiquity










share|improve this question







New contributor




Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












Here is a very old (possibly 2nd century) depiction of the Crucifixion of Jesus on an engraved gem:



Crucifiction



What do the words say?



Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_in_the_arts#Late_Antiquity







greek greek-translation






share|improve this question







New contributor




Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question







New contributor




Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question






New contributor




Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked yesterday









Sacha T RedSacha T Red

1461




1461




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New contributor





Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Sacha T Red is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.













  • I do not see that the linked article says anything about this em.it

    – fdb
    yesterday



















  • I do not see that the linked article says anything about this em.it

    – fdb
    yesterday

















I do not see that the linked article says anything about this em.it

– fdb
yesterday





I do not see that the linked article says anything about this em.it

– fdb
yesterday










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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3














The words are Greek:




ΟΡΦΕΟϹ ΒΑΚΚΙΚΟϹ

Orpheos Baccicos




My guess is that it was meant to be Orpheus Bacchicos, either misspelled or written in a different dialect. In this case, it would mean "Bacchic Orpheus" (where "Bacchic" refers to the worship of Bacchus, and "Orpheus" is the singer who went down to the Underworld and returned).



Both Bacchus and Orpheus had cults relating to death and resurrection, and they were sometimes unified into a single deity called "Zagreus", so I wouldn't be too surprised to see their names associated with the Christian idea of the Resurrection.






share|improve this answer































    2














    According to this site, it has the image of




    a crucified man identified as ΟΡΦΕΩΣ ΒΑΚΧΙΚΟΣ (Orpheos Bacchikos).




    A dedicated scientific article analysing the stone (in relation to, for instance, the Crucifixion of Jesus) can be found here. Notice that it is unclear if the image is that of Jesus. Orpheos might be a reference to the Greek legendary figure of that name. For instance, the article states:




    The fact
    that Christ appears represented on a cross, but is designated OPΦEOC BAKKIKOC—“Bacchic
    Orpheus”—, is of remarkable singularity in religious history, because Christ has taken the
    place of Orpheus, and not vice versa, as it is well-known from catacomb frescoes, for
    example with Orpheus as the Good Shepherd. Therefore the artefact would be
    syncretistic or Orphic, however with an Orpheus subjected to Dionysian suffering like Marsyas at the stake, and not like the Apollonian Orpheus with his lyra amidst tamed beasts. Bakkikos as an epithet of Orpheos is not tautologic, because beside the tradition that (as it seems to be the case here) Orpheus was killed by the enemies of his own following, there was among many others one famous variant, in which Orpheus, after returning from the Hades, abandoned his earlier habit of worshipping Dionysus-Bacchus and turned to Helios-Apollo instead, for which the insulted god had him dismembered by his Maenads. Therefore the designation Bakkikos would contrast this Orpheus on the
    cross from the follower of Apollo and identify him as the founder of the Dionysian
    Mysteries (see below).







    share|improve this answer





















    • 2





      I was about to write an answer based on this site. It says it's a magic amulet, syncretic in nature, thus the admixture of the Christian Crucifix with a Greek deity's name.

      – Rafael
      yesterday






    • 2





      I'm wondering where they got the omega and chi from…they seem to pretty clearly be an omicron and kappa in the image.

      – Draconis
      yesterday











    • @Rafael Please do so! Sorry to have stepped over.

      – luchonacho
      yesterday






    • 1





      You didn't step over. But I'm no longer convinced there is one explanation. Perhaps the best answer is we don't know, but there is a number of theories about it. The paper you cite even says it is not clear whether it is a forgery, and it's currently lost!

      – Rafael
      yesterday








    • 1





      @Rafael Do feel free to post another answer of your own! It sounds like you've got another source that neither Lucho nor I used, and competing theories are always fun.

      – Draconis
      yesterday











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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    3














    The words are Greek:




    ΟΡΦΕΟϹ ΒΑΚΚΙΚΟϹ

    Orpheos Baccicos




    My guess is that it was meant to be Orpheus Bacchicos, either misspelled or written in a different dialect. In this case, it would mean "Bacchic Orpheus" (where "Bacchic" refers to the worship of Bacchus, and "Orpheus" is the singer who went down to the Underworld and returned).



    Both Bacchus and Orpheus had cults relating to death and resurrection, and they were sometimes unified into a single deity called "Zagreus", so I wouldn't be too surprised to see their names associated with the Christian idea of the Resurrection.






    share|improve this answer




























      3














      The words are Greek:




      ΟΡΦΕΟϹ ΒΑΚΚΙΚΟϹ

      Orpheos Baccicos




      My guess is that it was meant to be Orpheus Bacchicos, either misspelled or written in a different dialect. In this case, it would mean "Bacchic Orpheus" (where "Bacchic" refers to the worship of Bacchus, and "Orpheus" is the singer who went down to the Underworld and returned).



      Both Bacchus and Orpheus had cults relating to death and resurrection, and they were sometimes unified into a single deity called "Zagreus", so I wouldn't be too surprised to see their names associated with the Christian idea of the Resurrection.






      share|improve this answer


























        3












        3








        3







        The words are Greek:




        ΟΡΦΕΟϹ ΒΑΚΚΙΚΟϹ

        Orpheos Baccicos




        My guess is that it was meant to be Orpheus Bacchicos, either misspelled or written in a different dialect. In this case, it would mean "Bacchic Orpheus" (where "Bacchic" refers to the worship of Bacchus, and "Orpheus" is the singer who went down to the Underworld and returned).



        Both Bacchus and Orpheus had cults relating to death and resurrection, and they were sometimes unified into a single deity called "Zagreus", so I wouldn't be too surprised to see their names associated with the Christian idea of the Resurrection.






        share|improve this answer













        The words are Greek:




        ΟΡΦΕΟϹ ΒΑΚΚΙΚΟϹ

        Orpheos Baccicos




        My guess is that it was meant to be Orpheus Bacchicos, either misspelled or written in a different dialect. In this case, it would mean "Bacchic Orpheus" (where "Bacchic" refers to the worship of Bacchus, and "Orpheus" is the singer who went down to the Underworld and returned).



        Both Bacchus and Orpheus had cults relating to death and resurrection, and they were sometimes unified into a single deity called "Zagreus", so I wouldn't be too surprised to see their names associated with the Christian idea of the Resurrection.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered yesterday









        DraconisDraconis

        16.9k22172




        16.9k22172























            2














            According to this site, it has the image of




            a crucified man identified as ΟΡΦΕΩΣ ΒΑΚΧΙΚΟΣ (Orpheos Bacchikos).




            A dedicated scientific article analysing the stone (in relation to, for instance, the Crucifixion of Jesus) can be found here. Notice that it is unclear if the image is that of Jesus. Orpheos might be a reference to the Greek legendary figure of that name. For instance, the article states:




            The fact
            that Christ appears represented on a cross, but is designated OPΦEOC BAKKIKOC—“Bacchic
            Orpheus”—, is of remarkable singularity in religious history, because Christ has taken the
            place of Orpheus, and not vice versa, as it is well-known from catacomb frescoes, for
            example with Orpheus as the Good Shepherd. Therefore the artefact would be
            syncretistic or Orphic, however with an Orpheus subjected to Dionysian suffering like Marsyas at the stake, and not like the Apollonian Orpheus with his lyra amidst tamed beasts. Bakkikos as an epithet of Orpheos is not tautologic, because beside the tradition that (as it seems to be the case here) Orpheus was killed by the enemies of his own following, there was among many others one famous variant, in which Orpheus, after returning from the Hades, abandoned his earlier habit of worshipping Dionysus-Bacchus and turned to Helios-Apollo instead, for which the insulted god had him dismembered by his Maenads. Therefore the designation Bakkikos would contrast this Orpheus on the
            cross from the follower of Apollo and identify him as the founder of the Dionysian
            Mysteries (see below).







            share|improve this answer





















            • 2





              I was about to write an answer based on this site. It says it's a magic amulet, syncretic in nature, thus the admixture of the Christian Crucifix with a Greek deity's name.

              – Rafael
              yesterday






            • 2





              I'm wondering where they got the omega and chi from…they seem to pretty clearly be an omicron and kappa in the image.

              – Draconis
              yesterday











            • @Rafael Please do so! Sorry to have stepped over.

              – luchonacho
              yesterday






            • 1





              You didn't step over. But I'm no longer convinced there is one explanation. Perhaps the best answer is we don't know, but there is a number of theories about it. The paper you cite even says it is not clear whether it is a forgery, and it's currently lost!

              – Rafael
              yesterday








            • 1





              @Rafael Do feel free to post another answer of your own! It sounds like you've got another source that neither Lucho nor I used, and competing theories are always fun.

              – Draconis
              yesterday
















            2














            According to this site, it has the image of




            a crucified man identified as ΟΡΦΕΩΣ ΒΑΚΧΙΚΟΣ (Orpheos Bacchikos).




            A dedicated scientific article analysing the stone (in relation to, for instance, the Crucifixion of Jesus) can be found here. Notice that it is unclear if the image is that of Jesus. Orpheos might be a reference to the Greek legendary figure of that name. For instance, the article states:




            The fact
            that Christ appears represented on a cross, but is designated OPΦEOC BAKKIKOC—“Bacchic
            Orpheus”—, is of remarkable singularity in religious history, because Christ has taken the
            place of Orpheus, and not vice versa, as it is well-known from catacomb frescoes, for
            example with Orpheus as the Good Shepherd. Therefore the artefact would be
            syncretistic or Orphic, however with an Orpheus subjected to Dionysian suffering like Marsyas at the stake, and not like the Apollonian Orpheus with his lyra amidst tamed beasts. Bakkikos as an epithet of Orpheos is not tautologic, because beside the tradition that (as it seems to be the case here) Orpheus was killed by the enemies of his own following, there was among many others one famous variant, in which Orpheus, after returning from the Hades, abandoned his earlier habit of worshipping Dionysus-Bacchus and turned to Helios-Apollo instead, for which the insulted god had him dismembered by his Maenads. Therefore the designation Bakkikos would contrast this Orpheus on the
            cross from the follower of Apollo and identify him as the founder of the Dionysian
            Mysteries (see below).







            share|improve this answer





















            • 2





              I was about to write an answer based on this site. It says it's a magic amulet, syncretic in nature, thus the admixture of the Christian Crucifix with a Greek deity's name.

              – Rafael
              yesterday






            • 2





              I'm wondering where they got the omega and chi from…they seem to pretty clearly be an omicron and kappa in the image.

              – Draconis
              yesterday











            • @Rafael Please do so! Sorry to have stepped over.

              – luchonacho
              yesterday






            • 1





              You didn't step over. But I'm no longer convinced there is one explanation. Perhaps the best answer is we don't know, but there is a number of theories about it. The paper you cite even says it is not clear whether it is a forgery, and it's currently lost!

              – Rafael
              yesterday








            • 1





              @Rafael Do feel free to post another answer of your own! It sounds like you've got another source that neither Lucho nor I used, and competing theories are always fun.

              – Draconis
              yesterday














            2












            2








            2







            According to this site, it has the image of




            a crucified man identified as ΟΡΦΕΩΣ ΒΑΚΧΙΚΟΣ (Orpheos Bacchikos).




            A dedicated scientific article analysing the stone (in relation to, for instance, the Crucifixion of Jesus) can be found here. Notice that it is unclear if the image is that of Jesus. Orpheos might be a reference to the Greek legendary figure of that name. For instance, the article states:




            The fact
            that Christ appears represented on a cross, but is designated OPΦEOC BAKKIKOC—“Bacchic
            Orpheus”—, is of remarkable singularity in religious history, because Christ has taken the
            place of Orpheus, and not vice versa, as it is well-known from catacomb frescoes, for
            example with Orpheus as the Good Shepherd. Therefore the artefact would be
            syncretistic or Orphic, however with an Orpheus subjected to Dionysian suffering like Marsyas at the stake, and not like the Apollonian Orpheus with his lyra amidst tamed beasts. Bakkikos as an epithet of Orpheos is not tautologic, because beside the tradition that (as it seems to be the case here) Orpheus was killed by the enemies of his own following, there was among many others one famous variant, in which Orpheus, after returning from the Hades, abandoned his earlier habit of worshipping Dionysus-Bacchus and turned to Helios-Apollo instead, for which the insulted god had him dismembered by his Maenads. Therefore the designation Bakkikos would contrast this Orpheus on the
            cross from the follower of Apollo and identify him as the founder of the Dionysian
            Mysteries (see below).







            share|improve this answer















            According to this site, it has the image of




            a crucified man identified as ΟΡΦΕΩΣ ΒΑΚΧΙΚΟΣ (Orpheos Bacchikos).




            A dedicated scientific article analysing the stone (in relation to, for instance, the Crucifixion of Jesus) can be found here. Notice that it is unclear if the image is that of Jesus. Orpheos might be a reference to the Greek legendary figure of that name. For instance, the article states:




            The fact
            that Christ appears represented on a cross, but is designated OPΦEOC BAKKIKOC—“Bacchic
            Orpheus”—, is of remarkable singularity in religious history, because Christ has taken the
            place of Orpheus, and not vice versa, as it is well-known from catacomb frescoes, for
            example with Orpheus as the Good Shepherd. Therefore the artefact would be
            syncretistic or Orphic, however with an Orpheus subjected to Dionysian suffering like Marsyas at the stake, and not like the Apollonian Orpheus with his lyra amidst tamed beasts. Bakkikos as an epithet of Orpheos is not tautologic, because beside the tradition that (as it seems to be the case here) Orpheus was killed by the enemies of his own following, there was among many others one famous variant, in which Orpheus, after returning from the Hades, abandoned his earlier habit of worshipping Dionysus-Bacchus and turned to Helios-Apollo instead, for which the insulted god had him dismembered by his Maenads. Therefore the designation Bakkikos would contrast this Orpheus on the
            cross from the follower of Apollo and identify him as the founder of the Dionysian
            Mysteries (see below).








            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited yesterday

























            answered yesterday









            luchonacholuchonacho

            5,79651560




            5,79651560








            • 2





              I was about to write an answer based on this site. It says it's a magic amulet, syncretic in nature, thus the admixture of the Christian Crucifix with a Greek deity's name.

              – Rafael
              yesterday






            • 2





              I'm wondering where they got the omega and chi from…they seem to pretty clearly be an omicron and kappa in the image.

              – Draconis
              yesterday











            • @Rafael Please do so! Sorry to have stepped over.

              – luchonacho
              yesterday






            • 1





              You didn't step over. But I'm no longer convinced there is one explanation. Perhaps the best answer is we don't know, but there is a number of theories about it. The paper you cite even says it is not clear whether it is a forgery, and it's currently lost!

              – Rafael
              yesterday








            • 1





              @Rafael Do feel free to post another answer of your own! It sounds like you've got another source that neither Lucho nor I used, and competing theories are always fun.

              – Draconis
              yesterday














            • 2





              I was about to write an answer based on this site. It says it's a magic amulet, syncretic in nature, thus the admixture of the Christian Crucifix with a Greek deity's name.

              – Rafael
              yesterday






            • 2





              I'm wondering where they got the omega and chi from…they seem to pretty clearly be an omicron and kappa in the image.

              – Draconis
              yesterday











            • @Rafael Please do so! Sorry to have stepped over.

              – luchonacho
              yesterday






            • 1





              You didn't step over. But I'm no longer convinced there is one explanation. Perhaps the best answer is we don't know, but there is a number of theories about it. The paper you cite even says it is not clear whether it is a forgery, and it's currently lost!

              – Rafael
              yesterday








            • 1





              @Rafael Do feel free to post another answer of your own! It sounds like you've got another source that neither Lucho nor I used, and competing theories are always fun.

              – Draconis
              yesterday








            2




            2





            I was about to write an answer based on this site. It says it's a magic amulet, syncretic in nature, thus the admixture of the Christian Crucifix with a Greek deity's name.

            – Rafael
            yesterday





            I was about to write an answer based on this site. It says it's a magic amulet, syncretic in nature, thus the admixture of the Christian Crucifix with a Greek deity's name.

            – Rafael
            yesterday




            2




            2





            I'm wondering where they got the omega and chi from…they seem to pretty clearly be an omicron and kappa in the image.

            – Draconis
            yesterday





            I'm wondering where they got the omega and chi from…they seem to pretty clearly be an omicron and kappa in the image.

            – Draconis
            yesterday













            @Rafael Please do so! Sorry to have stepped over.

            – luchonacho
            yesterday





            @Rafael Please do so! Sorry to have stepped over.

            – luchonacho
            yesterday




            1




            1





            You didn't step over. But I'm no longer convinced there is one explanation. Perhaps the best answer is we don't know, but there is a number of theories about it. The paper you cite even says it is not clear whether it is a forgery, and it's currently lost!

            – Rafael
            yesterday







            You didn't step over. But I'm no longer convinced there is one explanation. Perhaps the best answer is we don't know, but there is a number of theories about it. The paper you cite even says it is not clear whether it is a forgery, and it's currently lost!

            – Rafael
            yesterday






            1




            1





            @Rafael Do feel free to post another answer of your own! It sounds like you've got another source that neither Lucho nor I used, and competing theories are always fun.

            – Draconis
            yesterday





            @Rafael Do feel free to post another answer of your own! It sounds like you've got another source that neither Lucho nor I used, and competing theories are always fun.

            – Draconis
            yesterday










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