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.
Evidence ID
E01054Saint Name
Thekla, follower of Apostle Paul : S00092Saint Name in Source
Θέκλ(α)Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elementsEvidence not before
400Evidence not after
600Activity not before
400Activity not after
600Place of Evidence - Region
Asia MinorPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
Philadelphia in IsauriaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Philadelphia in Isauria
Nicomedia
Νικομήδεια
Nikomēdeia
Izmit
Πραίνετος
Prainetos
NicomediaCult 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.
