The God of Earthquakes: Several Hypotheses Related to One Dedicatory Inscription to Poseidon Asphaleios From Mesambria on Pontus

This article aims to present to the scientific community a dedicative inscription to the God Poseidon in his capacity as Asphaleios -Securer, embedded in one of the churches in Nessebar (Bulgaria)–St. Paraskeva Church. The inscription was found in 2013 during conservation-restoration works in the church. It is published for the first time here, and comments have been made on its connection with earthquakes and seaquakes in Southeastern Europe during so-called Hellenistic Period. The inscription is in the Doric dialect in four lines built in as a spolium on a recess above the altar apse on the church’s southern side in an upside-down position. Based on specific features of palaeography and orthography of the letters, the suggested dating is the second half of the 3rd and the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The epithet of the god in this inscription–Asphaleios is attested in other Dorian poleis; however, here, it cannot be connected with a temple to Poseidon. It was probably brought to Mesambria on Pontus from somewhere else; as exemplified with similar inscriptions originating from Kallatis (present-day Mangalia, Romania) and Dionysopolis (present-day Balchik, Bulgaria). The epiklesis in the mentioned inscriptions hints at the consequences of the seismic activity during the period comprising roughly the second quarter to the middle of the 3rd century BC that swept across Southeastern Europe and caused severe damage. Therefore, this inscription is another example of Poseidon being worshipped in his capacity of Securer and Earth-Stayer and being recognized as a symbol of hope for ancient people.