Epitaph of Abercius
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Epitaph of Abercius (title)
Chapter 1
1Lightfoot 1889, 496
Ἐκλεκτῆς πόλεως ὁ πολίτης τοῦτ᾽ ἐποίησα ζῶν, ἵν᾽ ἔχω καιρῷ σώματος ἔνθα θέσιν. οὔνομ᾽ Ἀβέρκιος εἰμὶ μαθητὴς ποιμένος ἁγνοῦ, ὃς βόσκει προβάτων ἀγέλας ὄρεσιν πεδίοις τε,
Eklektēs poleōs ho politēs tout᾽ epoiēsa zōn, hin᾽ echō kairǭ sōmatos entha thesin. ounom᾽ Aberkios eimi mathētēs poimenos hagnou, hos boskei probatōn agelas oresin pediois te,
Citizen of a chosen city, I made this in my lifetime, so that I might have here in due season a resting place for my body. Abercius is my name, a disciple of the pure Shepherd, who feeds flocks of sheep on mountains and plains,
Chapter 5
5Lightfoot 1889, 496
ὀφθαλμοὺς ὃς ἔχει μεγάλους πάντῃ καθορῶντας· οὗτος γάρ μ᾽ ἐδίδαξε … γράμματα πιστά· εἰς Ῥώμην ὃς ἔπεμψεν ἐμὲν βασιλῆαν ἀθρῆσαι καὶ βασίλισσαν ἰδεῖν χρυσόστολον χρυσοπέδιλον.
ophthalmous hos echei megalous pantę̄ kathorōntas; houtos gar m᾽ edidaxe … grammata pista; eis Rhōmēn hos epempsen emen basilēan athrēsai kai basilissan idein chrysostolon chrysopedilon.
who has great eyes that look down on every side. For he taught me … faithful writings. He sent me to Rome to behold royalty, and to see a queen in golden robe and golden sandals.
Chapter 9
9Lightfoot 1889, 496
λαὸν δ᾽ εἶδον ἐκεῖ λαμπρὰν σφραγῖδαν ἔχοντα· καὶ Συρίης πέδον εἶδα καὶ ἄστεα πάντα, Νίσιβιν, Εὐφράτην διαβάς· πάντῃ δ᾽ ἔσχον συνομίλους· Παῦλον ἔχων ἐπό[μην], πίστις πάντῃ δὲ προῆγε,
laon d᾽ eidon ekei lampran sphragidan echonta; kai Syriēs pedon eida kai astea panta, Nisibin, Euphratēn diabas; pantę̄ d᾽ eschon synomilous; Paulon echōn epo[mēn], pistis pantę̄ de proēge,
And there I saw a people bearing a shining seal. And I saw the plain of Syria and all its cities, and Nisibis, having crossed the Euphrates; and everywhere I had companions in faith. With Paul in my hands I followed, and Faith everywhere led the way
Chapter 13
13Lightfoot 1889, 496
καὶ παρέθηκε τροφὴν πάντῃ ἰχθὺν ἀπὸ πηγῆς πανμεγέθη, καθαρόν, ὃν ἐδράξατο παρθένος ἁγνή· καὶ τοῦτον ἐπέδωκε φίλοις ἔσθειν διὰ παντός, οἶνον χρηστὸν ἔχουσα, κέρασμα διδοῦσα μετ᾽ ἄρτου.
kai parethēke trophēn pantę̄ ichthyn apo pēgēs panmegethē, katharon, hon edraxato parthenos hagnē; kai touton epedōke philois esthein dia pantos, oinon chrēston echousa, kerasma didousa met᾽ artou.
and set before me everywhere as food a Fish from the spring, very great and pure, which a pure Virgin caught; and this she gave to her friends to eat at all times, having good wine, giving the mixed cup with bread.
Chapter 17
17Lightfoot 1889, 496
ταῦτα παρεστὼς εἶπον Ἀβέρκιος ὧδε γραφῆναι· ἑβδομηκοστὸν ἔτος καὶ δεύτερον ἦγον ἀληθῶς. ταῦθ᾽ ὁ νοῶν εὔξαιτο ὑπὲρ μοῦ πᾶς ὁ συνῳδός. οὐ μέντοι τύμβῳ τις ἐμῷ ἕτερον ἐπιθήσει·
tauta parestōs eipon Aberkios hōde graphēnai; hebdomēkoston etos kai deuteron ēgon alēthōs. tauth᾽ ho noōn euxaito hyper mou pas ho synǭdos. ou mentoi tymbǭ tis emǭ heteron epithēsei;
These things I, Abercius, standing by, ordered to be written here; I was truly in my seventy-second year. Let every one who understands these things and is in harmony with them pray for me. But no one shall place another in my tomb;
Chapter 21
21Lightfoot 1889, 496
εἰ δ᾽ οὖν, Ῥωμαίων ταμείῳ θήσει δισχίλια χρυσᾶ, καὶ χρηστῇ πατρίδι Ἱεροπόλει χίλια χρυσᾶ.
ei d᾽ oun, Rhōmaiōn tameiǭ thēsei dischilia chrysa, kai chrēstę̄ patridi Hieropolei chilia chrysa.
if he does, he shall pay to the treasury of the Romans two thousand gold pieces, and to my good native city Hieropolis a thousand gold pieces.