A Fragment of a Column with Inscriptions from the Excavations of the Church at the Gienos Settlement (Ochamchira, Republic of Abkhazia)

The article examines a fragment of an architectural detail with an inscription discovered in 2024 during archaeological excavations of an early Byzantine church at the Gienos settlement in the Republic of Abkhazia. The aim of the paper is to introduce this monument into scientific circulation, taking into account the scarce epigraphic material previously discovered during excavations. The fragment of an architectural detail, most likely a column, was carved from a single stone. At the top there is a «capital», square in cross-section, which is a square-shaped protrusion-cornice. The pillar of the «column» is of a complex shape – originally with chamfered corners, forming an irregular octahedron. The front part of the architectural detail bears traces of graffiti featuring images of crosses and Greek text. The inscription was multi-line, but a significant part of it has not survived, the surface has many scratches and chips. The letters were scratched by different persons, as their letterforms are different. It can be assumed that the fragment of an architectural element discovered in the territory of the Gienos church was a part of the altar barrier or entrance portal of the complex (at the discovery spot on the inner side of the narthex wall not far from the external door openings).