DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0122
96 III. HIERAPOLIS.- THE HOLY CITY.
never been abolished, but simply decayed slowly before the advance
of Graeco-Rornan civilization. It lingered longer in remote districts
than in the cities of the west1.
It is, in fact, probable though with our present knowledge not
susceptible of proof, that the term Parthenos in.connexion with the
Anatolian system should be rendered simply as ' the Unmarried,' and
should be regarded as evidence of the religious existence of the
pre-Greek social system. The Parthenos-goddess was also the Mother;
and however much the Parthenoi who formed part of her official
retinue2 may have been modified by Greek feeling, it is probable
that originally the term indicated only that they were not cut off by
marriage from the divine life.
Incidentally we note that the discrepancy between the religious
ritual and the recognized principles of society contributed to the
extraordinarily rapid spread of Christianity in Asia Minor. The religion
was not in keeping with the facts of life; and in the general change
of circumstances and education that accompanied the growth of
Koman organization in the country, the minds of men were stimulated
to thought and ready for new ideas. In the country generally a higher
type of society was maintained; whereas at the great temples the
primitive social system was kept up as a religious duty incumbent
on the class called Hierai during their regular periods of service at
the temple, as is proved by the inscriptions found at Dionysopolis.
The chasm that divided the religion from the educated life of the
country became steadily wider and deeper. In this state of things
St. Paul entered the country; and, wherever education had already
been diffused, he found converts ready and eager. Those who believe
that the tale of St. Thekla3 is founded on a real incident will
recognize in it a vivid picture of the life of the time, helping us to
appreciate the reason for the marvellous and electrical effect that is
attributed in Acts to the preaching of the Apostle in Galatia (p. 137).
§ 7. The Brotherhood. The God at Hierapolis is styled Lairbenos
(on which name see Ch. IV) and Archegetes on coins, and Apollo
Archegetes on inscriptions. The title Archegetes marks him as the
formal designation of a citizen in poli- : See the large proportion of cases
tical and legal documents, and the in the little Isaurian city of Dalisandos
cases of descent reckoned through the (Headlam JHS 1892 p. ij.
mother are so numerous that we must 2 For example iepareias irapdtvoi at
admit that law and custom admitted Teos CIG 3098.
such birth as legitimate. Examples are 3 See Church hi the Roman Empire
quoted on inscr. 21. Chapter XVI.
never been abolished, but simply decayed slowly before the advance
of Graeco-Rornan civilization. It lingered longer in remote districts
than in the cities of the west1.
It is, in fact, probable though with our present knowledge not
susceptible of proof, that the term Parthenos in.connexion with the
Anatolian system should be rendered simply as ' the Unmarried,' and
should be regarded as evidence of the religious existence of the
pre-Greek social system. The Parthenos-goddess was also the Mother;
and however much the Parthenoi who formed part of her official
retinue2 may have been modified by Greek feeling, it is probable
that originally the term indicated only that they were not cut off by
marriage from the divine life.
Incidentally we note that the discrepancy between the religious
ritual and the recognized principles of society contributed to the
extraordinarily rapid spread of Christianity in Asia Minor. The religion
was not in keeping with the facts of life; and in the general change
of circumstances and education that accompanied the growth of
Koman organization in the country, the minds of men were stimulated
to thought and ready for new ideas. In the country generally a higher
type of society was maintained; whereas at the great temples the
primitive social system was kept up as a religious duty incumbent
on the class called Hierai during their regular periods of service at
the temple, as is proved by the inscriptions found at Dionysopolis.
The chasm that divided the religion from the educated life of the
country became steadily wider and deeper. In this state of things
St. Paul entered the country; and, wherever education had already
been diffused, he found converts ready and eager. Those who believe
that the tale of St. Thekla3 is founded on a real incident will
recognize in it a vivid picture of the life of the time, helping us to
appreciate the reason for the marvellous and electrical effect that is
attributed in Acts to the preaching of the Apostle in Galatia (p. 137).
§ 7. The Brotherhood. The God at Hierapolis is styled Lairbenos
(on which name see Ch. IV) and Archegetes on coins, and Apollo
Archegetes on inscriptions. The title Archegetes marks him as the
formal designation of a citizen in poli- : See the large proportion of cases
tical and legal documents, and the in the little Isaurian city of Dalisandos
cases of descent reckoned through the (Headlam JHS 1892 p. ij.
mother are so numerous that we must 2 For example iepareias irapdtvoi at
admit that law and custom admitted Teos CIG 3098.
such birth as legitimate. Examples are 3 See Church hi the Roman Empire
quoted on inscr. 21. Chapter XVI.