Confession inscriptions of Lydia

Lydia

Lydia was an Iron Age kingdom of western Asia Minor located generally east of ancient Ionia in the modern Turkish provinces of Manisa and inland İzmir. Its population spoke an Anatolian language known as Lydian....

 and Phrygia

Phrygia

In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges , changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the...

 are Roman-era Koine Greek

Koine Greek

Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....

 religious stele

Stele

A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...

s from these historical regions of Anatolia

Anatolia

Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...

 (then part of Asia and Galatia

Galatia (Roman province)

Galatia was the name of a province of the Roman Empire in Anatolia . It was established by the first emperor, Augustus , in 25 BC, covering most of formerly independent Celtic Galatia, with its capital at Ancyra....

  provinces), dating mostly to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. They have provoked less discussion than one would expect.

The new element that appears, the public confession

Confession

This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...

 of sin and the redemption

Redemption (theology)

Redemption is a concept common to several theologies. It is generally associated with the efforts of people within a faith to overcome their shortcomings and achieve the moral positions exemplified in their faith.- In Buddhism :...

 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. 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. Indeed, beside the scheme of confession/redemption, phraseology and terms remind of Greek New Testament

New Testament

The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....

: hamartia

Hamartia

Hamartia is a term developed by Aristotle in his work Poetics. The word hamartia is rooted in the notion of missing the mark and covers a broad spectrum that includes ignorant, mistaken, or accidental wrongdoing, as well as deliberate iniquity, error, or sin...

 (sin), parakletos

Paraclete

Paraclete means advocate or helper. In Christianity, the term most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.-Etymology:...

 (advocator) , doulos

Doulos

Doulos may refer to:* In ancient Greece, a slave * Biblically it is commonly translated as bond-servant or servant, but literally the word meant slave.* MV Doulos, the oldest passenger ship in operation...

 tou theou (slave of god), kyrios (master), basileus

Basileus

Basileus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine Emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of...

 (king). Another point for discussion is the punishment of sexual transgressions, which further relates the inscriptions to Christianity and the concept of chastity

Chastity

Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....

 in Hellenistic philosophy and religion; in contrast to the previous perception of sexuality inside the religion (Hieros gamos

Hieros gamos

Hieros gamos or Hierogamy refers to a sexual ritual that plays out a marriage between a god and a goddess, especially when enacted in a symbolic ritual where human participants represent the deities. It is the harmonization of opposites...

, Sacred prostitution, Aphrodite Pandemos).

Some indicating names or epithets of deities engaged in the inscriptions are: Men

Men (god)

Men was a god worshipped in the western interior parts of Anatolia.The roots of the Men cult may go back to Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium BC. Ancient writers describe Men as a local god of the Phrygians....

 (Axiottenos, Artemidoros), Meter (mother), Zeus

Zeus

In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...

 (Aithrios , Keraunios, Soter) , Apollo

Apollo

Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...

, Hypsistos, Anaitis, Attis

Attis

Attis was the consort of Cybele in Phrygian and Greek mythology. His priests were eunuchs, as explained by origin myths pertaining to Attis and castration...

, Dionysos, Hades, Herakles, Sabazios

Sabazios

Sabazios is the nomadic horseman and sky father god of the Phrygians and Thracians. In Indo-European languages, such as Phrygian, the -zios element in his name derives from dyeus, the common precursor of Latin deus and Greek Zeus...

, Batenos, Nemesis

Nemesis (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Nemesis , also called Rhamnousia/Rhamnusia at her sanctuary at Rhamnous, north of Marathon, was the spirit of divine retribution against those who succumb to hubris . The Greeks personified vengeful fate as a remorseless goddess: the goddess of revenge...

, Asclepius

Asclepius

Asclepius is the God of Medicine and Healing in ancient Greek religion. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; his daughters are Hygieia , Iaso , Aceso , Aglæa/Ægle , and Panacea...

, Tyrannos, Basileus, Theos Strapton and Bronton, Hecate

Hecate

Hecate or Hekate is a chthonic Greco-Roman goddess associated with magic, witchcraft, necromancy, and crossroads.She is attested in poetry as early as Hesiod's Theogony...

, Artemis

Artemis

Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...

 etc.

Ritual dialogue of Theodoros with the Gods (Lydia, 235/6 AD)

Koine Greek original text

Translation

THEODOROS: In the year 320, on the 12th of the month Panemos ,because I have been brought to my senses by the gods, by Zeus and Men Men (god) Men was a god worshipped in the western interior parts of Anatolia.The roots of the Men cult may go back to Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium BC. Ancient writers describe Men as a local god of the Phrygians....  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 GOD: He takes the first sin away with a sheep, partridge and mole Mole (animal) Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes; and short, powerful limbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the... THEODOROS: Second sin. Although I was a slave of the gods at Nonos, I had sex with Ariagne, the monaulia (virgin priestess). 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 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 Paraclete Paraclete means advocate or helper. In Christianity, the term most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.-Etymology:... ) ZEUS: Look! I have blinded him for his sins.But since he has appeased the gods and written down his sins on this stele Stele A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab... ,he takes salvation. Asked by the senate, 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/punishment upon Theodoros in order to be salvated from his licentious sexual activities.

Soterchos of Motella (Phrygia, 3rd c.AD)

Koine Greek original text

Translation

Αὐρήλιος Σωτήρχος Δημοστράτου Μοτεληνός κολάθιν ἑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ· παραγέλων πᾶσι μηδὲ ἄναγον ἀναβῆτε πὶ τὸ χωρίον ἐπροκήσι ἢ κηνσετε τὸν ὄρχις· ἐγὼ Γέα ἐκηνησάμην ἐπὶ τὸ χωρίον.

Aurelios Soterchos son of Demostratos from Motella Metellopolis (titular see) Motella, Metellopolis, or Pulcherianopolis was a city in the Roman province of Phrygia Pacatiana, in Asia Minor, probably on the site of the modern Medele.... Because I was punished by the God, I send a message to all· Do not enter the place impure, after committing perjury or having sex. I had sex with Gea (Gaia Gaia (mythology) Gaia was the primordial Earth-goddess in ancient Greek religion. Gaia was the great mother of all: the heavenly gods and Titans were descended from her union with Uranus , the sea-gods from her union with Pontus , the Giants from her mating with Tartarus and mortal creatures were sprung or born... ) inside the place.