Robert L. Mowery, «Paul and Caristanius at Pisidian Antioch», Vol. 87 (2006) 223-242
A recently-published Latin inscription from Pisidian Antioch refers to four
benefactions that a prominent citizen named Caristanius had provided to fulfill a
vow on behalf of the emperor Claudius. Since this inscription refers to the year
45/46 CE, it refers to benefactions that may have been provided near the time
when Paul arrived in the city. After surveying the contents of this inscription and
reviewing scholarly opinion concerning the date when Paul arrived, this paper
reflects on the ethnic diversity of first century Pisidian Antioch, the religious
beliefs reflected in Caristanius’ vow, the likely impact of his benefactions on the
residents of the city, and the possibility that he may have been one of “the leading
men of the city” mentioned in Acts 13,50.
Paul and Caristanius at Pisidian Antioch 233
The remains of two temple complexes have been found in or near
the city. The sanctuary of Mên Askaênos, which stood on a hill outside
the city, contained a temenos, a main temple, a small temple, two sets
of additional buildings, and a small stadium (52). This site and the
surrounding area have provided more epigraphical and numismatic
evidence concerning this deity than any other site in the ancient
world (53). But the only inscription at this site that can be confidently
dated in the first century is one that honors Tiberius Claudius Epinicus,
apparently a freedman of Claudius (54).
A large temple complex occupied the most prominent location
within the city. Although Tuchelt assumed that this temple was
dedicated to Mên and Cybele (55), Hänlein-Schäfer has argued that it
was dedicated to Augustus, though she concedes that Augustus may
have been syncretistically associated with Mên or Cybele (56). Mitchell
and Waelkens have recently claimed that this temple was dedicated to
Augustus (or Augustus and Roma) (57), and others have voiced similar
conclusions (58). There is widespread agreement that the construction
of this temple was begun during the Augustan-Tiberian period (59).
By the mid-40s when Caristanius made his vow, the residents of
Pisidian Antioch may have been worshiping not only Augustus but
also various other members of the imperial family in this temple.
(52) Cf. MITCHELL – WAELKENS, Pisidian Antioch, 37-90. Regarding the
reference to two temples in Strabo, Geography 12.3.31, see SYME, Anatolica,
344-347.
(53) See E.N. LANE, Corpus monumentorum religionis dei Menis (CMRDM)
(EPRP 19; Leiden 1971-1978) I, 100-155; II, 82-104; III, 55-66. See also his
“Men. A Neglected Cult of Roman Asia Minorâ€, ANRW II, 18, 3 (1990) 2161-
2174.
(54) See G.L. CHEESMAN, “The Family of the Caristanii at Antioch in Pisidiaâ€,
JRS 3 (1913) 258-259; LEVICK, Roman Colonies, 88, 111; Lane, Corpus, III, 59.
(55) K. TUCHELT, “Bemerkungen zum Tempelbezirk von Antiochia ad
Pisidiamâ€, Beiträge zur Altertumskunde Kleinasiens. Festschrift für Kurt Bittel
(ed. R.M. BOEHMER – H. HAUPTMANN; Mainz 1983) I, 501-522.
(56) H. HÄNLEIN-SCHÄFER, Veneratio Augusti. Eine Studie zu den Tempeln
des ersten römischen Kaisers (Archaeologica 39; Roma 1985) 191-196.
(57) Pisidian Antioch, 157-167.
(58) For a brief survey of the conclusions of other scholars, see MITCHELL–
WAELKENS, Pisidian Antioch, 157-158. See also BREYTENBACH, Paulus, 160;
WITULSKI, Adressaten, 190-199; CHRISTOL – DREW-BEAR – TASLIALAN, “L’emper-
eurâ€, 11-12.
(59) Cf., e.g., MITCHELL – WAELKENS, Pisidian Antioch, 147, 161; WITULSKI,
Addressaten, 194-195.
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