DOI: 10.37095/gephyra.1949109 ISSN: 1309-3924

Some New Christian Funerary Inscriptions from Savatra and Surroundings

Mehmet Alkan, İlker Işık
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This contribution presents four newly found Christian funerary inscriptions from the Lycaonian city of Savatra (Yağlıbayat). One of these (no. 2) was unearthed at Savatra during the excavations, while the others were found during the surveys in and around the Yağlıbayat village. Numerous epigraphic finds previously discovered in Savatra and the surrounding area provide valuable evidence of the rise of Christianity in the city. The newly presented inscriptions also offer important information about the religious and social structures of Savatra during the Christian period. The inscriptions contain the personal names as Basilissa (no. 1), Longinus (no. 2), Timodemos' son Nestor (no. 3), Pauli[-] and Am-pe[-] (no. 4), Sousanna’s husband Papas, son of Alexandros (no. 5). Important expressions, terms and concepts are included such as σῆμα τόδ’ ἔπλετο, deaconess (no. 1); διαφέρον(τα), polites, ὀνόματα δέκα (no. 2); Holy Trinity (no. 3) and M/marty[- (no. 4). Two inscriptions contain warnings regarding the protection of the tomb: one (no. 2) states that anyone who lays hand on the tomb will give account to God; the other (no. 3) warns the offender is accountable to the Trinity (Father-Son-Holy Spirit). The only place name mentioned is as τῆς Δάρα (no. 1), which must be the famous Mesopotamian city of Dara.

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