Evidence ID
E00828Saint Name
Nicholas, bishop of Myra, southern Asia Minor, ob. 343 : S00520Saint Name in Source
ΝικόλαοςType of Evidence
Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)Evidence not before
400Evidence not after
800Activity not before
400Activity not after
800Place of Evidence - Region
Asia MinorPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
MylasaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Mylasa
Nicomedia
Νικομήδεια
Nikomēdeia
Izmit
Πραίνετος
Prainetos
NicomediaCult Activities - Cult Related Objects
CrossesSource
Marble plaque found in Mylasa (Caria, west Asia Minor) by Louis Robert. First published by François Halkin.Discussion
The most interesting feature of this inscription is Nicholas' byname: ἀρχίαστρος. François Halkin says that this puzzling word resembles an epithet used for the pagan goddess Astarte and the Moon, e.g. ἀστροάρχη and ἀστράρχη which can be freely translated as the lady of stars. Saint Nicholas of Myra could be called so because he was considered as a patron of sailors, using stars to navigate. Another explanation is that the epithet was misspelt and it should be read as ἀρχιατρός, i.e. the great physician. The word ἀρχιατρός occurs in another late antique inscription from Mylasa (see I. Mylasa, no. 629) which is apparently a poorly preserved list of objects belonging to a local church. It is therefore possible that the church was dedicated to Saint Nicholas the 'Great Physician'. This text is, however, to be republished by Denis Feissel with a photograph by Louis Robert.Bibliography
Edition:
Die Inschriften von Mylasa, no. 628.
Further Reading:
Halkin, F., "Inscriptions grecques relatives à l'hagiographie, IX, Asie Mineure", Analecta Bollandiana 71 (1953), 99.
Reference works:
Bulletin épigraphique (1954), 26.
