The Cult of Zeus and the Possible Location of Its Sanctuary at Antiokheia Paralios
LIBRI XII (2026) 189-207
Received: 07.09.2026 | Accepted: 04.10.2026
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23756971
Online Publication Date: 29.10.2026
Abstract: Although various cults are attested at Antiokheia Paralios, commonly known as Antiochia ad Cragum, the precise locations of their sanctuaries remain largely uncertain. Three newly discovered honorific inscriptions from the city provide further evidence for the previously attested cult of Zeus. One inscription honours an individual named Neon, who served as a priest of Zeus, while the preserved text and epigraphic context of the other two likewise point to the priesthood of Zeus. Since two of these inscriptions were discovered within the temenos of the structure known as the Peristyle Temple, this structure can now be associated with the cult of Zeus and regarded as a strong candidate for the location of his sanctuary. This proposal provides a new basis for reconsidering the possible spatial organization of the epigraphically attested cults of the Augusti and Dea Roma, as well as their relationship with the cult of Zeus.
Keywords: Antiokheia Paralios, Rough Cilicia, Zeus, Cult of the Augusti, Cult of Dea Roma, Antiokhos IV
Öz: Yaygın olarak Antiochia ad Cragum adıyla bilinen Antiokheia Paralios kentinde çeşitli kültlerin varlığı belgelenmiş olsa da bunlara ait kutsal alanların konumları büyük ölçüde belirsizliğini korumaktadır. Kentte ele geçen üç yeni onurlandırma yazıtı, daha önce de belgelenmiş olan Zeus kültüne ilişkin yeni veriler sunmaktadır. Yazıtlardan biri, Neon isimli bir kişinin Zeus rahibi olarak onurlandırıldığını belgelerken, diğer ikisinde de korunmuş metin ve epigrafik bağlam aynı rahiplik görevine işaret etmektedir. Bu yazıtlardan ikisinin Peristylli Tapınak olarak bilinen yapının temenos alanında ele geçmiş olması, söz konusu yapının Zeus kültüyle ilişkilendirilmesine ve Zeus kutsal alanının konumu açısından güçlü bir aday olarak değerlendirilmesine olanak sağlamaktadır. Bu öneri, kentte epigrafik olarak belgelenen Augustuslar ve Dea Roma kültlerinin olası mekânsal organizasyonlarının yanı sıra bunların Zeus kültüyle olan ilişkilerini yeniden değerlendirmek için de yeni bir çerçeve sunmaktadır.
Anahtar sözcükler: Antiokheia Paralios, Dağlık Kilikia, Zeus, İmparatorlar Kültü, Dea Roma Kültü, Antiokhos IV
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Mehmet OKTAN
Dr., Akdeniz University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Ancient Languages and Cultures, Antalya, Türkiye. mehmetoktan@akdeniz.edu.tr
Mehmet TEKOCAK
Prof. Dr., Selçuk University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Archaeology, Konya, Türkiye. mtekocak@yahoo.com