Confession inscriptions of Lydia and Phrygia are Roman-era Koine Greek religious steles from these historical regions of Anatolia (then part of Asia and Galatia provinces), dating mostly to the second and third centuries.
The new element that appears, the public confession of sin and the redemption through offerings (lytra), unknown to traditional Greek religion, has made scholars to name this social phenomenon as oriental. The religious thought and the use of vernacular Koine Greek, full of innovative orthography, syntax and grammar, suggests that they may also represent something at the root of religion in Phrygia and Lydia.[1] Marijana Ricl has argued that the practice of confession is a reminiscence of Hittite religion. According to Schnabel E.J it was a counter-move prompted by the increasing success of the Christian missionaries.[2] Indeed, beside the scheme of confession and redemption, the phraseology and terms are reminiscent of Greek New Testament: hamartia (sin), parakletos (advocate), doulos tou theou (servant of God), kyrios (master), basileus (king). Another point for discussion is the punishment of sexual transgressions, which further relates the inscriptions to Christianity and the concept of chastity in Hellenistic philosophy and religion, in contrast to the previous perception of sexuality inside the religion (Hieros gamos, Sacred prostitution, Aphrodite Pandemos).
THEODOROS: In the year 320,[4] on the 12th of the month Panemos , because I have been brought to my senses by the gods, by Zeus and Men the Great Artemidoros (I set up this stele or I offer these pair of eyes)
GOD: I punished Theodoros on his eyes for the sins he committed.
THEODOROS: I had sex with Trophime, the slave of Haplokomas, wife of Eutyches in the courtyard[5]
GOD: He takes the first sin away with a sheep, partridge and mole
THEODOROS: Second sin. Although I was a slave of the gods at Nonos, I had sex with Ariagne, the monaulia (virgin priestess).[6]
GOD: He takes away with a piglet and tuna.
THEODOROS: Third sin. I had sex with Arethusa, the monaulia.
GOD: He takes aways with a chicken, sparrow, pigeon, a kypros[7] of barley and wheat, a chamber-pot (prochos) of wine, a kypros of clean wheat for the priests, one prochos.
THEODOROS: I ask for Zeus's help (verbatim I have Zeus intercessor, paraclete)
ZEUS: Look! I have blinded him for his sins. But since he has appeased the gods and written down his sins on this stele, he takes salvation. Asked by the senate,[8] I am merciful because my stele was erected on the day I appointed. You may open the jail, I set the convict free, a year and ten months passing.
According to George Petzl, a trial of sacred theatre did take place in the sanctuary; Theodoros was convicted and jailed. Zeus was impersonated by a priest. According to Ender Varinlioglu, phylake (jail) is used metaphorically. Blindness was the jail or punishment upon Theodoros in order to be saved from his licentious sexual activities.[9]
Aurelios Soterchos son of Demostratos
from Motella
Because I was punished by the God, I send a message to all·
Do not enter the place[14] impure, after committing perjury
or having sex. I had sex with Gea (Gaia) inside the place.
References
^Angels and Principalities: The Background, Meaning and Development of the Pauline Phrase hai archai kai hai exousiai A. Wesley Carr Page 56ISBN0-521-23429-8 (2005)
^Deutungen des Todes Jesu im neuen Testament edited by Jörg Frey, Jens Schröter Page 292ISBN3-16-148581-5 (2007)
^chôrion, place inside a sanctuary here, or a landed holy property
Further reading
Hughes, Jessica. “Punishing Bodies: The Lydian and Phrygian ‘Propitiatory’ Stelai, Second–Third Centuries AD”. In: Votive Body Parts in Greek and Roman Religion. Cambridge Classical Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. pp. 151–86. doi:10.1017/9781316662403.005.