View source for Derbe

{{Short description|Ancient city}}
{{otheruses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} 
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Derbe
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  |map_type = Turkey
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  |map_size = 250
  |location = [[Turkey]]
  |region = [[Karaman Province]] or [[Lycaonia]]
  |coordinates    = {{coord|37.349273|N|33.361715|E|source:dewiki_region:TR_type:city|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
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'''Derbe''' or '''Dervi''' ({{langx|el|Δέρβη}}), also called '''Derveia''' ({{langx|el|Δέρβεια}}),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://topostext.org/work/241#D225.2|title=ToposText|website=topostext.org|accessdate=25 December 2023}}</ref> was a city of [[Galatia (Roman province)|Galatia]] in [[Asia Minor]], and later of [[ancient Lycaonia|Lycaonia]], and still later of [[ancient Isauria|Isauria]] and [[ancient Cappadocia|Cappadocia]].  It is mentioned in the [[Acts of the Apostles]] at {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|14:6|ESV}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|14:20|ESV}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|16:1|ESV}} and {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|20:4|ESV}}. Derbe is the only city mentioned in the New Testament where the inhabitants adopted Paul's version of Christianity right away.<ref>Acts |14:19-22</ref><ref>Acts |16:1-5</ref>

==Etymology==
Derbe is derived from{{citation needed |date =April 2022}} Derbent which is derived from [[Persian language|Persian]] "''Darband''" ({{Langx|fa|دربند|lit=Barred gate}}, from ''dar'' “gate” + ''band'' “bar,” lit. “barred gate”<ref>{{cite book |last2=Kosarev |first2=Aleksey N |last3=Glantz |first3=Michael |last4=Kostianoy |first4=Andrey G. |last1=Zonn |first1=Igor S |title=The Caspian Sea Encyclopedia |year=2010 |publisher=Springer |page=160}}</ref>), referring to an adjacent pass, to a narrow gate entrance.

== Location ==
There may have been several cities with the name Derbe, since Derbe (meaning narrow gate or entrance) is mostly a geographical [[toponym]] (e.g. [[Derbent]]).{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

[[Strabo]] places Derbe “on the sides” of Isauria, and almost in Cappadocia.<ref>{{Cite Strabo|p. 569}}</ref> Elsewhere, he says it was in the eleventh praefecture of Cappadocia.<ref>{{Cite Strabo|p. 534}}</ref> When the apostles Paul and [[Saint Barnabas|Barnabas]] visited Derbe, it was in [[Lycaonia]]. [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] places Derbe in Isauria.<ref>{{Cite Stephanus|''s.v.'' Δέρβη}}</ref><ref>Ramsay, William Mitchell (1908). The Cities of St. Paul. A.C. Armstrong. pp. 315–384.</ref><ref>Bruce, Frederick Fyvie (1977). Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Eerdmans. p. 475. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-4778-2}}</ref>

In 1956, on the basis of an [[inscription]] dating to 157 AD, Michael Ballance fixed the site of Derbe at a mound known as [[Kerti Hüyük]], some {{convert|15|mi|km}} northeast of [[Karaman]] (ancient Laranda), near [[Ekinözü, Kovancılar|Ekinözü]] village in modern-day Turkey.<ref name=oup>{{Cite book| publisher = Oxford University Press| isbn = 978-0-19-988145-1| last1 = Fant| first1 = Clyde E.| last2 = Reddish| first2 = Mitchell G.| title = A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cPDXFPxKBzIC&pg=PT341 |date = 2003-10-23}}</ref> Although subject to controversy, this is considered the most likely site.<ref name="biblicalstudies.org.uk">[http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/archaeology_vanelderen.pdf Bastian Van Elderen, ''Some Archaeological Observations on Paul’s First Missionary Journey'', 157-159] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803004339/http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/archaeology_vanelderen.pdf |date=2020-08-03 }}.</ref><ref>Steve C. Singleton, ''[https://deeperstudy.com/study-links/bible-atlas-space/central-mediterranean-lands-in-the-bible/derbe/ Derbe], from Bible Atlas from Space, Deeperstudy.com.''</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/derbe-excavations-explore-pauline-site/|title = Derbe Excavations Explore Pauline Site|date = 6 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ferrelljenkins.blog/2014/05/14/excavations-at-derbe/|title=Excavations at Derbe|date=14 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/remains-of-first-religious-structure-discovered-in-central-anatolia-53833|title = Remains of first religious structure discovered in Central Anatolia| date=5 September 2013 }}</ref>

[[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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=D.derbe-geo&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064&force=y|title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), DAAE, DERBE|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu|accessdate=25 December 2023}}</ref> In modern Turkey there is a village named Derbent, nearby a lake and nearby Iconium city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Derbent,+konya|title = Derbent · Derbent/Konya, Turkey}}</ref> There is also a district that is named [[Derbent, Konya|Derbent]].

==History==

[[Antipater of Derbe]], a friend of [[Cicero]],<ref>Cicero, ''Ad Familiares'', xiii. 73</ref> was ruler of Derbe, but was killed by [[Amyntas of Galatia]], who added Derbe to his possessions.<ref>[[Strabo]], XII,i, 4; vi, 3</ref><ref>[[Dio Cassius]], XLIX, xxxii)</ref>

''Claudioderbe'' was a special title given to Derbe during the reign of the Roman Emperor [[Claudius]]; it appears on second century coins from Derbe.<ref name=oup />

The apostles [[Saint Paul (apostle)|Paul]] and [[Saint Barnabas|Barnabas]] came to Derbe after escaping a disturbance and surviving the [[stoning]] in [[Lystra]] (Acts 14:19), about {{convert|75|mi|km|-1}} away.<ref name="biblicalstudies.org.uk"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/E-Books/christ/Ramsay/Galatians/HCG_22.htm|title=Swartzentrover.com &#124; Ramsay - A Historical Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians - Part 1 - Chapter 22|website=www.swartzentrover.com|accessdate=25 December 2023}}</ref>

The [[Derbe (Diocese)|Bishopric of Derbe]] became a [[suffragan see]] of Iconium. It is not mentioned by later ''[[Notitiae Episcopatuum]]''. Just four bishops are known, from 381 to 672.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|access-date=2007-02-17|encyclopedia=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04738c.htm|title=Derbe}}</ref> [[Derbe (Diocese)|Derbe]] is included in the [[Catholic Church]]'s list of [[titular see]]s.<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 880</ref>

[[Saint Timothy]] was a native of Derbe (or of [[Lystra]]).<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|16:1|ESV}}</ref> Derve may also be linked to [[Dervish]] or [[Derviş]] (literally means [[mendicant]], 'beggar', 'one who goes from door to door'), a  mystic [[Sufi]] fraternity from Iconium whose most common practice [[Sama (Sufism)|Sama]] is directly associated with the 13th-century Persian mystic [[Rumi]]. The firstborn son of Rumi named [[Sultan Walad|Veled]] escaped death miraculously nearby [[Derbent, Konya|Derbe]]<ref>M. SABRİ DOĞAN http://www.akmanastir.com/2019/12/22/eflatun-manastir/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126015351/http://www.akmanastir.com/2019/12/22/eflatun-manastir/ |date=2021-01-26 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mevlanamuzesi.com/eflatun-manastir-ak-manastir/|title = Eflatun Manastır (Ak Manastır) – Mevlana TV}}</ref> (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"''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B054'37.0%22N+32%C2%B025'58.2%22E|title = Google Maps}}</ref> in [[Meyers Reisebücher]]. Maybe the dance named [[devr-i veledi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Devr-i-Veledi/dp/B00VG2JVII|title = Devr-i Veledi|website = Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/8fP98NvP9xw| archive-date = 2021-12-05| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fP98NvP9xw| title = Refik Hakan Talu - Devr-i Veledi (Official Lyrics Video) | website=[[YouTube]]| date = 24 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> that precedes the [[Sema]] ceremony is also related to Derve. According some rumors, Devr-i veledi (that was played during circumcision ceremonies) also refers to the circumcision<ref>{{cite thesis|author=Nevin Şahin |title=Contestations, conflicts and music-power: mevlevi sufism in the 21st century Turkey |url=https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/25552 |location=METU |degree=PhD |year=2016}}</ref> of Rumi's father [[:ru:Баха ад-Дин Валад|Bahā ud-Dīn Walad]] during the pilgrimage, and this action is somehow associated with the circumcision of Saint Timothy {{Bibleverse |Acts|16:1–3|NIV}}.<ref>[[Circumcision of Jesus#Theological beliefs and celebrations]]</ref> {{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DGRG|title=Derbe}}

{{Journeys of Paul of Tarsus}}
{{Former settlements in Turkey}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Turkey]]
[[Category:New Testament cities]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Turkey]]
[[Category:Geography of Karaman Province]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Lycaonia]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Galatia]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Isauria]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Cappadocia]]
[[Category:Populated places of the Byzantine Empire]]
[[Category:History of Karaman Province]]