Pages: 39-46

The article studies a Genoese inscription from Soldaia, written in Latin and dated by 1423. In 19th—20th centuries, different scientists, like G. Oderico, P. Keppen, V. Yurgevich, C. Desimoni, E. Skrzinskaya and others have proposed different readings of the inscription. However, an important semantic part of the inscription remained unexplained. One of the factors which made it difficult to decode the inscription was its hardly accessible location.
The use of digital photography permitted the author to obtain a qualitative image and to entirely reconstruct the inscription. Basing on its content, the author assumes that G. Catalano, mentioned in the inscription, was not the Genoa’s consul in Soldaia, as thought earlier, but a catholic bishop of the town, who initiated construction of the cathedral. Below the inscription, there are two coats of arms belonging to the Genovese families who provided financial support to the construction. One of these coats of arms was identified as representing the Goano family.

Keywords: Crimea, Soldaia, Genoa, 15th cent., Catalano, Latin epygraphy

Information about author:

Alexander Emanov (Tyumen, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Tyumen State University. Lenin St., 23, Tyumen, 625003, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]