New Inscriptions from Rough Cilicia

Year 2024, Issue: 27, 193 - 210, 15.12.2024

Fatma Avcu , Hüseyin Uzunoğlu

https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.1609789

Abstract

In this article 12 new inscriptions derived from both archaeological excavations at Diocaesarea (Uzuncaburç) and field surveys conducted in Rough Cilicia are introduced. Only one of the inscriptions is Hellenistic and concerns the honoring of the mother and sister of the priest Teukros, a member of the famous Teukros dynasty of the Olba temple state. Three of the remaining inscriptions are from Late Antiquity and carved on sarcophagi lids in arcosolium graves in the North necropolis of Diocaesarea. These inscriptions prove the existence of one monastery dedicated to St. Sergios and Konon, as well as one church dedicated to St. Rafael. The vast majority of the inscriptions belong to the Roman Imperial Period. One of them is, in fact, an addendum to an already known building inscription of the theater following the discovery of a new fragment which forms the first epigraphic evidence that the city took the title of Hadriane known from the coins. Two inscriptions are of religious content: one concerns the erection of statues of the gods by a priest called Mithradates, while the other provides information that a certain Chariton and some others, whose names cannot be read due to the break in the stone, erected an altar after having been warned by an oracle. The inscription attests further evidence concerning the worship of Athena Oreia Krisoua in Cilicia and ends with an acclamation.

Keywords

Rough Cilicia, Diocaesarea, inscriptions, Athena Oreia Krisoua, Teukros, Hadriane

Thanks

We owe a debt of gratitude to Prof. Dr. Ümit Aydınoğlu who gave permission to publish the materials from the archaeological field survey (entitled “Dağlık Kilikia’da Antik Dönem’de Kentleşme ve Kırsal Yerleşimler Arkeolojik Yüzey Araştırması”) conducted in Rough Cilicia under his leadership as well as from the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Diocaesarea. We are also grateful to Dr. Okan Özdemir (Mersin) for his help in recording the inscriptions. We further thank T. Michael P. Duggan (Antalya) for improving the English of this paper.

References

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