E01007: Greek epitaph for a chief presbyter of a church of *Platon (martyr of Ankyra, S00650). Found at Tavium (Galatia, central Asia Minor). Probably late antique.
Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Source
A white marble stele, with a carving of a tabula ansata, a wreath, and a lozenge decoration. H. 0.8 m; W. 0.61 m; letter height 0.03 m. Found at Büyüknefes (area of ancient Tavium, Galatia, central Asia Minor).
Discussion
The inscription is the epitaph for Georgios, a chief presbyter (protopresbyteros) that served in a sanctuary of Platon, a martyr of Ankyra, probably martyred under Diocletian, and brother of the martyr *Antiochos (see Synax. Eccl. Const. 18 XI). The sanctuary of Platon in nearby Ankyra was a renowned pilgrimage centre and a church was dedicated to the martyr in Constantinople under Justinian (see: Foss 1977, 52-53; Delehaye 1912, 186-187). However, Stephen Mitchell argues that our priest served in an otherwise unattested church of Platon at Tavium, the closest city to the find-spot. This is disputable, as Georgios could have been associated with the sanctuary at Ankyra and simply buried at his home village.
Dating: 5th c. or later (based on the contents and letter forms).
Bibliography
Edition:
I. North Galatia, no. 427.
Macpherson, I. W., New Evidence for the Historical Geography of Galatia (Unpublished Cambridge University PhD thesis: 1958), 196, no. 284.
Inscriptiones Christianae Graecae database, no. 2441: http://www.epigraph.topoi.org/ica/icamainapp/inscription/show/2441
Further reading:
Delehaye, H., Les origines du culte des martyrs (Bruxelles : Société des Bollandistes, 1912), 186-187.
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), 102.
Foss, C.,"Late Antique and Byzantine Ankara", Dumbarton Oaks Papers 31 (1977), 52-53.
The comments to I. North Galatia, no. 237.
Reference works:
Bulletin épigraphique (1983), 438.