1. Journal of Ancient History 2 (293)
  2. Apamean Legend of the Noah’s Ark

Apamean Legend of the Noah’s Ark

Semenchenko Lada V.

The article is devoted to the study of a local legend belonging to the mythological complex of Kelainai–Apamea Kibotos, one of the important cities in Asia Minor. The possible Jewish or Christian origin of this legend telling about the landing of the Noah’s ark in Kelainai-Apamea has been a subject of a long debate in historiography. The author reconsiders available literary, epigraphical, iconographical and toponymical data concerning this legend, including the results of the recent surveys on the site carried out by an international team in the frame or the archaeological project “Kelainai-Apamea Kibotos” in order to trace the origins of the legend and to reconstruct the process of its creation as well as to date more precisely its development.

Keywords: Apamea Kibotos, Kelainai, the legend of Noah’s Ark, Marsyas, Early Empire, Apamean coins, iconography, topography, Phrygian inscriptions, Christian literary tradition, Sibylline Oracles.
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