_p329_SITE_OF_DERBE%2c_KARAJH_DAGH_MOUNTAINS_IN_THE_DISTANCE.jpg) | |
  Derbe Shown within Turkey | |
| Location | Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Karaman Province orLycaonia |
| Coordinates | 37°20′57″N33°21′42″E / 37.349273°N 33.361715°E /37.349273; 33.361715 |
Derbe orDervi (Greek:Δέρβη), also calledDerveia (Greek:Δέρβεια),[1] was a city ofGalatia inAsia Minor, and later ofLycaonia, and still later ofIsauria andCappadocia. It is mentioned in theActs of the Apostles at14:6,14:20,16:1 and20:4. Derbe is the only city mentioned in the New Testament where the inhabitants adopted Paul's version of Christianity right away.[2][3]
Derbe is derived from[citation needed] Derbent which is derived fromPersian "Darband" (Persian:دربند,lit. 'Barred gate', fromdar “gate” +band “bar,” lit. “barred gate”[4]), referring to an adjacent pass, to a narrow gate entrance.
There may have been several cities with the name Derbe, since Derbe (meaning narrow gate or entrance) is mostly a geographicaltoponym (e.g.Derbent).[citation needed]
Strabo places Derbe “on the sides” of Isauria, and almost in Cappadocia.[5] Elsewhere, he says it was in the eleventh praefecture of Cappadocia.[6] When the apostles Paul andBarnabas visited Derbe, it was inLycaonia.Stephanus of Byzantium places Derbe in Isauria.[7][8][9]
In 1956, on the basis of aninscription dating to 157 AD, Michael Ballance fixed the site of Derbe at a mound known asKerti Hüyük, some 15 miles (24 km) northeast ofKaraman (ancient Laranda), nearEkinözü village in modern-day Turkey.[10] Although subject to controversy, this is considered the most likely site.[11][12][13][14][15]
Stephanus of Byzantium says that Derbe would have had a port (λιμήν , limēn), but this is an obvious mistake, as the city was located inland. This has been corrected to the form limnē (λίμνη , 'lake'], as there are some lakes in the vicinity, albeit a little further away.[16] In modern Turkey there is a village named Derbent, nearby a lake and nearby Iconium city.[17] There is also a district that is namedDerbent.
Antipater of Derbe, a friend ofCicero,[18] was ruler of Derbe, but was killed byAmyntas of Galatia, who added Derbe to his possessions.[19][20]
Claudioderbe was a special title given to Derbe during the reign of the Roman EmperorClaudius; it appears on second century coins from Derbe.[10]
The apostlesPaul andBarnabas came to Derbe after escaping a disturbance and surviving thestoning inLystra (Acts 14:19), about 75 miles (120 km) away.[11][21]
TheBishopric of Derbe became asuffragan see of Iconium. It is not mentioned by laterNotitiae Episcopatuum. Just four bishops are known, from 381 to 672.[22]Derbe is included in theCatholic Church's list oftitular sees.[23]
Saint Timothy was a native of Derbe (or ofLystra).[24] Derve may also be linked toDervish orDerviş (literally meansmendicant, 'beggar', 'one who goes from door to door'), a mysticSufi fraternity from Iconium whose most common practiceSama is directly associated with the 13th-century Persian mysticRumi. The firstborn son of Rumi namedVeled escaped death miraculously nearbyDerbe[25][26] (other sources report that it was the second son of Rumi that escaped death miraculously). The place where the miracle happened is mentioned as"Paul's cave"[27] inMeyers Reisebücher. Maybe the dance nameddevr-i veledi[28][29] that precedes theSema ceremony is also related to Derve. According some rumors, Devr-i veledi (that was played during circumcision ceremonies) also refers to the circumcision[30] of Rumi's fatherBahā ud-Dīn Walad during the pilgrimage, and this action is somehow associated with the circumcision of Saint TimothyActs 16:1–3.[31][citation needed]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Derbe".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|