1. Introduction

Twelve inscriptions were found during the excavations conducted at the monastic complex of Alahan (known today by its Turkish name Alahan Manastir) in Isauria by the British Institute of Archaeology in Ankara under the supervision of Michael Gough, during the period 1955-1972. Only two of them survive almost intact and provide historical information regarding the monastery and the people who lived there. Of the remaining ten, nine contain only a few letters, while one, on the north wall of the so-called «narthex», to the south of the baptistery, has been entirely destroyed. All inscirptions are written in capital letters.

2. The inscription of Tarasis the elder

† [ΕΝΘ]ΑΔΕ ΚΙΤΕ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΚΑ/
ΡΙΑΣ ΜΝΗΜΗΣ ΤΑΡΑΣΙΣ Ο ΚΤΙΣΑΣ ΤΑ ΑΠΑ[ΝΤΗ]/
ΤΗΡΙΑ, ΤΕΛΕΥΤΗΣΑΣ ΜΗΝΙ ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ/
ΤΡΙΣΚΕΔΕΚΑΤΗ ΙΝΔ(ΙΚΤΙΩΝΟΣ) ΠΕΝΤΕΚΕ/
ΔΕΚ[Α]ΤΗΣ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΥΠΑΤΙΑΝ ΦΛ(ΑΥΙΟΥ)/ 5
ΣΕΥ[Η]ΡΙΑΚΟΥ ΦΛ(ΑΥΙΟΥ) ΔΑΓΑΛΑΙΦΦΟΥ/
ΤΩΝ ΛΑΜΠΡ(ΟΤΑΤΩΝ) ΗΜΕΡΑ ΤΡΙΤΗ ΠΡΩ/
ΤΗ <ΤΗ> ΕΒΔΟΜ[Α]ΔΙ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ/
ΝΗ<Ε>ΤΕΩ[Ν]† (fig. 1)

The inscription is carved on a tabula ansata on the side surface of a stone sarcophagus found in a cave around 80 m. to the west of the «West church». It is written in nine verses (letter height 4,7-1,7 cm., inscription’s total height: 42 cm.; width: 1,10 m.). The text, which begins in the top left and ends at the bottom right with a cross, survives almost intact.¹

The name «Tarasis» mentioned on the inscription (v. 2), is particularly common in the region of Isauria.² The phrase «ὁ κτίσας τὰ ἀπαντητήρια» (v. 2-3) was added to the inscription later as shown by its carving outside the edges of the tabula ansata, in an attempt to distinguish the Tarasis of the inscription from the Tarasis mentioned on the second inscription. The participle «κτίσας» must be interpreted here as «founder» despite the fact that, during the Byzantine period, the word κτίστης (the builder) was had also the meaning of the benefactor.³ The word «ἀπαντητήρια» is not known before the 5^th century, while it is rarely used after this date. It possibly denoted a hospice intended for the visitors of the monastery, and must therefore be sought in the interior of the complex. It may correspond to the two-storey building constructed to the east of the «Western church» that survives to this day.⁴

Verses 3-9 of the inscription mention the date, the indiction and the year of Tarasis’ death: 13 February, Tuesday in the first week of Lent of the 15^th indiction, which coincides with the year 462. It remains unknown why the inscription contains the names of Flavius Severinus and Flavius Dagalaiphus), who, as we conclude from the inscription of Tarasis the younger, had served as consuls during the previous year, 461, rather than the names of the consuls of the year 462.

Finally, the word «νη<ε>τεώ[ν]», which is also mentioned in the last verse of the inscription (v. 9), must be read as «νηστειών».

3. The insription of Tarasis the younger

† ΕΝΘΑΔΕ ΚΑΤΑΚΙΤΕ/
ΤΑΡΑΣΙΣ ΔΙΣ, ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΟΣ/
ΠΡΕΣΒ(ΥΤΕΡΟΣ) ΚΑΙ ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΑΡΙΟΣ/
ΠΑΡΟΙΚΗΣΑΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΤΟΠΩ/
ΤΟΥΤΩ ΑΠΟ ΥΠΑΤΙΑΣ ΓΑΔΑ-/ 5
Λ[Α]ΙΠΠΟΥ ΙΝΔ(ΙΚΤΙΩΝΟΣ) ΙΔ΄ ΕΩΣ ΙΝΔ(ΙΚΤΙΩΝΟΣ) [vacat]/
ΥΠΑΤ[Ι]ΑΣ [vacat] ΖΗΣΑΣ ΤΑ/
ΠΑΝΤΑ ΕΤΗ [vacat] (fig. 2)

The inscription is carved on a concavity above a stone sarcophagus in the so-called «Tomb of Tarasis». The text, in eight verses, is also carved on a tabula ansata. It begins in the top left with a cross, while the letters, whose height varies, are incised irregularly on the stone surface. Three lacunas in verses 6, 7 and 8 had been left in order to be filled in at a later date, something which did not actually occur.⁵

In verses 2-8 we are informed that Tarasis the younger, possibly the son of Tarasis the elder, served as «presbyter» and «paramonarios» at the monastery from 461 until unknown when, as the space left to be filled with the respective date, was never completed. This event makes it possible that Tarasis did not die at Alahan, nor was buried there, a hypothesis which was strengthened by the discovery of a silver reliquary in a church in the village of Çirga, 40 km south-west of Mut, with the inscription «ὑπὲρ ἀναπαύσεως τοῦ μακαρ(ί)ου Τάρασης δὶς»; the «Τάρασης δὶς» mentioned here, must be identified with the «Τάρασις δις» on our inscription.⁶

The word «πρεσβύτερος» refers to the second dignity in ecclesiastical hierarchy, that of the priest, held by Tarasis,⁷ while the word «παραμονάριος» (or προσμονάριος) to a title according to which its holder was obliged to live in the monastery permanently and take care of its security during the night.⁸

The name «Γαδαλ[α]ίππου» (v. 5-6) must be identified with the name «Δαγαλίφφου» in the inscription of Tarasis the older.

Finally, the 14^th indiction, mentioned in verse 6 («Ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος) ιδ΄»), corresponds to the year 461. During that year, as we are informed by the inscription itself, the office of consul was held by Flavius Severinus and Flavius Dagalaiphus.

4. The other inscriptions

1. ΙΦ+/
ΘΕΟΔΟ/
ΗΟΝΟ

The inscription was found on the central western gate of the «East church» and has been written on the inner side of the south pilaster (letter height 1,25-2 cm.). A large cross with triangular edgings was incised below it.⁹

2. ΚΟΝΟΝ
ΗΡ [vacat] CAOPIOY

The inscription is located on the window of the west wall of the narthex of the «Eastern church» (letter height 4,7-3,2 cm.). The letters HP are joined.¹⁰

3. + ΕΥΧΗΑΙΩΑ... .+.

Inscription on the pedestal in the northeast of the «Eastern church» (letter height 5-5,5 cm.). A possible restoration is: +Εὺχή α Ἰωά[ννου πρες]+.¹¹

4.+ΕΝΘΑ Κ<Α>ΤΑΚΙΤΗ ΛΕΟΝ

The inscription is written on three consecutive stones at the eastern end of the so-called «narthex», south of the Baptistery.¹²

5. IC XC

Inscription in the «Church in cave» at the western edge of the monastic complex.¹³

6. ΩΔΕ [vacat] +Θ

The inscription was found in a tomb located to the west of the tomb of Tarasis the younger (letter height 3,8-4,5 cm.).¹⁴

7. +ΝΕΩΝΑΚΑ

Inscription on the rock behind the «Cemetery», to the northeast of the «Baptistery» (letter height 2,7-9,5 cm.).¹⁵

8. ΚΙΤΙCAO …

The inscription was found in the same area as the previous one (letter height 2,5-5,1 cm.).¹⁶

9. +[.]ΩΠΩΚΟ/
ΝΩΓΩΓΩ/
ΝΙΟΥ

Inscription in the same area as the previous two (letter height 4,4-6,7 cm.).¹⁷

5. Chronology

The fragmentary condition of most of the abovementioned inscriptions allows neither their commentary nor their dating. Only the two almost complete inscriptions of Tarasis the elder and Tarasis the younger can be dated to the second half of the 5^th century, as they preserve the dates 462 and 461 respectively. These two dates taken into account, we have an important terminus ante quem for the foundation of the monastic complex at Alahan which can be placed with certainty to the mid-5^th century.