Syriac inscription with an invocation of *Thekla (almost certainly the follower of the Apostle Paul, S00092). Found at Qirsali (near Hierapolis-Bambyke/Manbij and al-Bab in north Syria). Probably late antique.
Evidence ID
E01970
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements
Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)
ܩܕܝ]ܫܬܐ ܡܪܬܝ ܬܩܠܐ
ܕܘܟ]ܪܢܗ ܠܒܘܪܟܬܐ
'The holy Lady Thekla, blessed be her memory!'
Text: Jarry 1967, no. 31.
Translation: S. Minov.
Cult PlacesPrayer/supplication/invocation
Cult building - independent (church)
Non Liturgical ActivityPrayer/supplication/invocation
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Construction of cult buildings
Source
The inscription is carved on a column, at mid-height. Dimensions of the column: H. 1.75 m; diameter: 0.42 m. Letter height 0.03-0.06 m.Seen and copied (photograph, transcription) by Jacques Jarry in 1963 (while he was a member of the 1963 expedition led by Georges Tchalenko), and published in 1967.
Discussion
The editor does not comment on the purpose of this inscription but it seems to be a common invocation of the saint. It is possible that the church, where the column was placed, could have been dedicated to this Thekla, and the inscription could commemorate the offering of the column to the sanctuary (cf. E00926: an offering of a column to a church of *Mannis).The identity of our Thekla is not specified, but she is almost certainly Thekla of Ikonion/Iconium, the follower of the Apostle Paul. The principal sanctuary of this Thekla was situated at Seleukeia/Seleucia in southeast Asia Minor, a region belonging to the Diocese of Orient and connected with north Syria by important trade routes.
For monasteries dedicated to Thekla in Syria, see: Peña 2000, 30, 244-245.
Bibliography
Edition:Jarry, J., “Inscriptions arabes, syriaques et grecques du massif du Bélus en Syrie du nord”, Annales islamologiques 7 (1967), 157, no. 31.
Further reading:
Peña, I., Lieux de pèlerinage en Syrie (Milan: Franciscan Printing Press, 2000), 30, 244-245.
Tabula Imperii Byzantini, vol. 15, p. 1614.
Images
)
Photograph. From: Jarry 1967, plate XLI.
Record Created By
Paweł Nowakowski, Sergey Minov
Date of Entry
29/10/2016
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00092 | Thekla, follower of the Apostle Paul | ܬܩܠܐ | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Sergey Minov, Cult of Saints, E01970 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E01970