Fragment of a spout or gutter with a Greek inscription referring to *Thekla (follower of the Apostle Paul S00092), as the First (female) Martyr. Found at İmsi Ören/ancient Philadelphia (Isauria, southern Asia Minor). Probably 5th-6th c.
Evidence ID
E01054
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements
A fragment of a spout or gutter of chalky limestone. H. 0.14 m; W. 0.25 m; Th. 0.255 m. Found in the garden of a house at İmsi Ören (ancient Philadelphia). It was said to have been brought there from a ruined church, located on a terrace near the town.
Inscription:
Πρωτομάρτ̣υ(ρος) Θέκλ(ας) +
'Of the First Martyr Thekla. +'
Text: Bean & Mitford 1970, no. 250.
Cult Places
Cult building - independent (church)
Theorising on SanctityConsiderations about the hierarchy of saints
Discussion
The inscription contains the name of *Thekla, probably in the genitive case. The saint is addressed as πρωτομάρτυς, the First Martyr, as she was considered the first female Christian martyr, and therefore the female counterpart to Stephen, the First Martyr.Dating: 5th-6th c. (based on the contents and letter forms).
Bibliography
Edition:Hagel, St., Tomaschitz, K., (eds.), Repertorium der westkilikischen Inschriften (Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Denkschriften der philosophisch-historischen Klasse 265, Ergänzungsbände zu den Tituli Asiae Minoris 22, Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1998), no. İms 5.
Bean, G.E., Mitford, T.B., Journeys in Rough Cilicia 1964-1968 (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien, Akademie der Wissenschaften, Denkschriften der philosophisch-historischen Klasse 102, Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1970), no. 250.
Further reading:
Destephen, S., "Martyrs locaux et cultes civiques en Asie Mineure", in: J.C. Caillet, S. Destephen, B. Dumézil, H. Inglebert, Des dieux civiques aux saints patrons (IVe-VIIe siècle) (Paris: éditions A. & J. Picard, 2015), 108.
Mitford, Ter. B., "The cults of Roman Rough Cilicia", in: Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, II 18-3 (1990), 2149.
Mietke, G., "Monumentalisierung christilcher Heiliger in Kilikien in frühbyzantinischer Zeit", Olba 17 (2009), 123.
Reference works:
Bulletin épigraphique (1972), 555.
Record Created By
Pawel Nowakowski
Date of Entry
04/01/2016
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00092 | Thekla, follower of the Apostle Paul | Θέκλ(α) | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Pawel Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E01054 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E01054