Bolnisi inscriptions

Bolnisi Georgian inscriptions

Inscription 1
Writing	Georgian language inscriptions written in a Georgian script
Created	494 AD
Present location	Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi

The Bolnisi inscriptions (Georgian: ბოლნისის წარწერები) are the Georgian language inscriptions written in the Georgian Asomtavruli script on the Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral, a basilica located in Bolnisi, Bolnisi Municipality, Georgia. The inscriptions are dated 494 AD.^[1][2]

Inscriptions

Inscription 1

“

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

”

• Translation: "Jesus Christ, have mercy on David the Bishop and those who built this church for your worship."

Inscription 2

Bolnisi inscription #2.

“

ႨႱႠႱႠႫႤႡႨႱ ႠჂႧႠႭႺ ႼႪႨႱႠႮႤႰႭႦႫႤႴ ႠႫႨႱႤႩ ႪႤႱႨႠჂႱႠჂ ႣႠႠႧႾႭჃႧႫႤႲႼႪႨႱ ႬႠႵႠႸႨႬႠႧႠჃႷႠႬႨႱႾႺႤႱႶႬႸႤႨႼႷႠႪႤႬႣႠႥႨႬႠ ႮႨႱႩႭႮႭႱႱႠႾႭჃႪႭႺႭႱႨႢႨႺႠႶႬႸႤႨႼႷႠႪႤ

”

• 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."

References

1. B. G. Hewitt, Georgian: A Structural Reference Grammar, John Benjamins Publishing, 1995, p. 4
2. Paolo Siniscalco, Le antiche chiese orientali: storia e letteratura, La Lingua Georgiana, Città Nuova, 2005, p. 288

Bibliography

• Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, Volume. 2, pp. 454-455, Tbilisi, 1977