WOMEN’S IDENTITY AND REPRESENTATIONS IN SINOPE IN LIGHT OF EPIGRAPHIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Öz

In ancient societies, women were predominantly defined by domestic roles; however, under certain social, economic, and especially religious conditions, they also became visible in the public sphere. In this context, Sinope, as a major port city, is an important center where female identity and representation can be traced through its rich material record. This study brings together inscriptions, funerary monuments, and other epigraphic and archaeological evidence discovered in the city. It examines how female identity was reflected from the Late Archaic Period to the Roman Imperial Period. The findings indicate that during the Late Archaic and Classical periods, female identity was largely defined through paternal lineage, while the roles of wife and mother were only limitedly emphasized. In the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial periods, although the family-centered identity structure continued, female identity and representation became more diverse through priesthood, being honored with statues and portraits, and practices associated with increasing economic prosperity, such as purchasing burial plots, erecting monuments, and making funerary arrangements.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Black Sea
• Sinope
• Female Identity
• Funerary Stele
• Inscription
• Honour

EPİGRAFİK VE ARKEOLOJİK VERİLER IŞIĞINDA SİNOPE’DE KADIN KİMLİĞİ VE TEMSİLLERİ

Öz

Antik Dönem toplumlarında çoğunlukla ev içi rollerle tanımlanmış olan kadınlar belirli sosyal, ekonomik ve özellikle dinsel koşullar altında kamusal alanda da görünür hale gelmişlerdir. Bu bağlamda bir liman kenti olan Sinope, sahip olduğu zengin eser repertuarıyla kadın kimliğinin ve temsilinin izlenebildiği önemli merkezlerden biridir. Bu çalışma, kentte bugüne kadar tespit edilen yazıtlar ve mezar anıtları başta olmak üzere epigrafik ve arkeolojik verileri bir araya getirerek Geç Arkaik Dönem’den Roma İmparatorluk Dönemi’ne kadar kadın kimliğinin yansımalarını ele almaktadır. Elde edilen bulgular, özellikle Geç Arkaik ve Klasik Dönem’de kadın kimliğinin büyük ölçüde baba soyuna dayalı olarak tanımlandığını, eş ve annelik rollerinin sınırlı biçimde vurgulandığını göstermektedir. Hellenistik ve Roma İmparatorluk Dönemlerinde ise aile merkezli kimlik yapısı korunmuş olmakla birlikte rahibelik, heykel ve portrelerle onurlandırılma ile ekonomik refah düzeyindeki artışa bağlı olarak mezar alanı satın alma, anıt diktirme ve defin düzenlemeleri gibi uygulamalarla kadın kimliği ve temsili çeşitlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Karadeniz
• Sinope
• Kadın Kimliği
• Mezar Steli
• Yazıt
• Onurlandırma

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