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E01054: 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.

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posted on 2016-01-04, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski

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.

History

Evidence ID

E01054

Saint Name

Thekla, follower of Apostle Paul : S00092

Saint Name in Source

Θέκλ(α)

Related Saint Records

https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Thekla_follower_of_the_Apostle_Paul/13729357

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements

Language

Greek

Evidence not before

400

Evidence not after

600

Activity not before

400

Activity not after

600

Place of Evidence - Region

Asia Minor

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Philadelphia in Isauria

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Philadelphia in Isauria Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos Nicomedia

Cult activities - Places

Cult building - independent (church)

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.