Translation of CerneTorumque

[Jona Lendering]

The Column of Marcian in Istanbul has an inscription that I do not fully understand:

PRINCIPIS HANC STATVAM MARCIANI
CERNE TORVMQVE
PRAEFECTVS VOVIT QVOD TATIANVS
OPVS

This statue of the emperor Marcian
[this I do not understand]
because the prefect Tatius has promised
this monument.

"Torus" may refer to the fact that the pillar is round; it may even be a pars pro toto for column - but what does "cerne" mean? I'm really puzzled.

[Tarbicus]

Jona, bookmark this great translation site:
http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/showcase/wordsonline.html


TORVMQUE:

Two words
May be 2 words combined (TORVM+QuE) If not obvious, probably incorrect

que CONJ
que CONJ [FXXET] Medieval uncommon
and; (while properly attached as enclitic sometimes copyists make mistakes);

tor.um N 2 1 ACC S M
tor.um N 2 1 GEN P M uncommon
torus, tori N M [XXXDX] lesser
swelling, protuberance; mussel, brawn; bed, couch, stuffed bolster, cushion;

(If you take 'protuberance' as the meaning there, it may be 'pillar' or 'column' - protrudes from the ground, perhaps?)


CERNE:

cern.e V 3 1 PRES ACTIVE IMP 2 S
cerno, cernere, crevi, cretus V TRANS [XXXAO]
sift, separate, distinguish, discern, resolve, determine; see; examine; decide;


"Distinguished column"?

[D B Campbell]

... but what does "cerne" mean? I'm really puzzled.

It occurs on tombstones as "Cerne viator" and the like: "Look, passerby!"

Is your inscription instructing us to "look" at the statue and its plinth? :?

[Jona Lendering]

(If you take 'protuberance' as the meaning there, it may be 'pillar' or 'column' - protrudes from the ground, perhaps?)

More or less my own idea, although I was thinking about the fact that it was round - sort of "this thing that is round". But "this protrusion" is better. I might even use it as example of a byzantinism.

Is your inscription instructing us to "look" at the statue and its plinth? :?

Why not? I see no objection. Still, I have a feeling the solution is a different one.

Anyone else?

[Gregg]

How about this:

Observe, you passerby,
This statue of the Emperor Marcian
And its remarkable protuberence.
Built by the prefect Tatius.


The "protuberence", and the form of the monument itself (a plain granite colum), may have been a reference to Marcian's marriage to Pulcheria, who had taken a vow of celibacy and never allowed him to consummate their marriage.

[D B Campbell]

Observe, you passerby, | This statue of the Emperor Marcian | And its remarkable protuberence. | Built by the prefect Tatius.

A bit of poetic license, I think, Gregg. :lol:

[Jona Lendering]

How about this:

Observe, you passerby,
This statue of the Emperor Marcian
And its remarkable protuberence.
Built by the prefect Tatius.

Poetic, as Duncan says, certainly; but at least beautiful, although I think I stick to column or monument - if we allow ourselves some license, this makes it easier to understand.