A New Altar with an Inscription and Bust of Helios from the Territory of Tyana (Kemerhisar)
Ramazan ÇOBAN
Abstract
This contribution introduces a new inscribed altar bearing a bust of Helios, which was discovered in 2024 at the village of Kaynarca, in the Bor district of Niğde province, in the Cappadocia region. Similar altars bearing the Helios bust are known from various regions of Anatolia, including Cilicia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Lycia and Phrygia. The importance of this altar is increased by the fact that it is the first one found in Cappadocia with a bust of Helios. The altar was seized by the Kemerhisar district gendarmerie and handed over to the excavation house of Tyana/Kemerhisar. While the altar’s find-spot is not known for certain, it is possible it belonged to an ancient settlement within Kaynarca village, about 6 km to the northeast to Kemerhisar, in the territory of Tyana. In Kaynarca, there are two significant archaeological sites. One of these is a Neolithic mound, and the other is a tumulus found in the vicinity of the mound, which dates to the 8th century BC. Furthermore, an inscription from the Roman Imperial period, which refers to the construction of a temple, was discovered in a private residence in the village.
The front face of this portable cubic altar, originating from the village of Kaynarca, features a three-line votive inscription in Greek and a relief bust of Helios with the head set in front of a halo of sun rays. The depiction of Helios wearing a cloak is an important iconographic feature and helps to date the altar. On the left surface of the altar, there is a crescent in relief, and the right side is adorned with a six-leaf rosette. This article examines the typological characteristics of the altar and the iconographic features of the bust by comparing them with those of other altars depicting Helios found in Anatolia. It is also examined how crescent and rosette motifs can be interpreted in relation to Helios. According to the partially damaged inscription, the altar was probably dedicated to [Heli]os So[ter] by Papias, son of P[rep]on. Based on the lettering employed in the inscription and the iconographic features of the Helios bust, it is suggested that the altar dates to the second half of the 2nd century AD or the 3rd century AD. This dating suggestion is supported by two inscribed altars dedicated to Helios Soter found in Anatolia, which are also dated to these centuries. In conclusion, this altar is valuable both as a significant finding that will contribute to the studies on the Helios altars, and as a new addition to the evidence suggesting that Kaynarca village, where it was discovered, was inhabited during the Roman Imperial Period.
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