Roma Dönemi Anadolusu’nda Yahudi Diasporası ve Yerel Onomastik Tercihler: Hierapolis Örneği
The Jewish Diaspora and Local Onomastic Preferences in Roman Anatolia: A Study of Hierapolis

Summary/Abstract: The presence of Jewish communities in the Anatolian diaspora dates back to the 3rd century BCE. However, despite the accounts of philological sources, historical materials generally remain silent until the 3rd century CE. The lack of sufficient historical evidence has led to the questioning of the reliability of philological sources and, at times, to misinterpretations. Between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, Jewish communities in many parts of Anatolia began to manifest themselves through references to their cultural identity. As these cultural markers became more apparent, studies on Judaism tended to employ similar methodologies regardless of temporal or geographical context. Nevertheless, identifying Jews in the diaspora presents significant temporal and regional variations. Moreover, the long-standing familiarity with epigraphic materials—such as inscriptions and tombstones—and the frequent re-evaluation of the same data have led to a repetitive nature in this field of research. This study aims not only to better understand the lifestyle of Jewish communities and uncover hidden elements within the epigraphic material through name analysis, but also to explore, via the case of Hierapolis, the reasons behind the historical silence surrounding much earlier periods.

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