Semitic inscriptions in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod: a reply to alternative interpretations

Abstract

In the present article, we offer a detailed reply to alternative interpretations of our explanation of two eleventh-century phrases inscribed many times on the walls of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod: коуни рони and парехъ мари. According to our previous article in this journal, the phrases have a Semitic origin: Hebrew qūmī ronnī and Syriac /barrek mār/, respectively. In both instances new empirical evidence is provided by S. Ju. Temčin. In the case of коуни рони we argue that his alternative hypothesis cannot be maintained for a number of compelling reasons; our interpretation stands as it is. In the case of парехъ мари we basically agree with Temčin and provide evidence that sheds further light on its path of transmission into Slavic. Аннотация В настоящей статье дается подробный ответ на альтернативные трактовки выражений коуни рони и парехъ мари, многократно записанных в XI в. на стенах новгородского Софийского собора. Ранее эти выражения были объяснены нами как семитские: от древнееврейского qūmī ronnī и сирийского /barrek mār/. После этого новые факты по обоим вопросам привлек С. Ю. Темчин. В случае с коуни рони мы The contribution of A. A. Gippius and S. M. Mikheev was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 19-18-00352).