The Baptismal Well Inscription of Ex Comitibus Leo, son of Leo from the Kırşehir Museum

Year 2023, Volume: 11, 377 - 386, 21.06.2023

Senem Dinç

Abstract

This article concerns a large inscription carved in marble, which was found used as a decorative object in the garden of a private property in the Boztepe District of Kırşehir Province and later included in 2016 in the inventory of the Kırşehir Museum. The new inscription featured a Psalm verse and the name of the person who had the inscription made, someone called Leo with the title of ex comitibus. It is noteworthy because the verse concerns baptism and the hole in the center indicates it was used as a lid to a baptismal well. In contrast to the baptismal pools used commonly in the Early Christian period, having a well specifically for this ritual makes this a rare documented example. This study aims to determine the exact function and the date of the inscribed stone. The subject of baptism in the Early Christian period and the historical development of the comes title, which became widespread during the reign of Constantine I, have been examined to provide perspective. Thinking that they would contribute to the dating explanations have also provided for the elaborate decoration carrying the style of the period.

Keywords

Cappadocia, Comes, the Litugy of Baptism, Baptismal Well, Psalm. 29. 3

Kırşehir Müzesi’nden Ex Comitibus Leon oğlu Leon’un Vaftiz Kuyusu Yazıtı

Abstract

Bu makalenin konusunu 2016 yılında Kırşehir Müzesi envanterine kazandırılan, Kırşehir ili Boztepe ilçesinde özel bir mülkün bahçesinde peyzaj malzemesi olarak kullanılmış, dev boyuttaki mermer bir levha üzerinde yer alan yazıt oluşturmaktadır. Bu yeni yazıtta, Zebur’dan bir ayet ve ex comitibus unvanına sahip Leon adlı bir kişinin taşı yaptırdığı yazmaktadır. Taş, bir kuyu üzerinde kullanıldığını gösteren ortasındaki delik ve üzerindeki vaftiz ile ilgili ayet sebebiyle özeldir. Erken Hristiyanlık döneminde yaygın olan vaftiz havuzlarının kullanımının aksine bir kuyunun bu ritüel için yapılmış olması onu bugüne dek belgelenmiş nadir örneklerden biri yapmaktadır. Bu makalede yazıtın üzerinde yer aldığı taşın kullanım amacının belirlenmesi ve yazıtın tarihlendirilmesi üzerinde durulacaktır. Bu amacı yerine getirmek için Erken Hristiyanlık Dönemi’nde vaftiz konusu ve I. Constantinus dönemi ile yaygınlaşan comes unvanının tarihsel gelişimi üzerinde durulmuş, ayrıca taş üzerindeki, yapıldığı dönemin stilini taşıyan zengin bezemeler de tarihlendirmede katkısı olacağı düşüncesi ile açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır.

Keywords

Kappadokia, Comes, Vaftiz Litürjisi, Vaftiz Kuyusu, Zebur 29. 3

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