The lower edge of the icon is decorated with a garland of flowers, including roses, tulips, and violets with green leaves. These floral motifs create a frame that adds beauty and symbolic meaning to the icon. Flowers, especially roses, often represent purity, divine love, and devotion in Orthodox iconography. Below the floral decorations, votive inscriptions appear on both sides of the icon (Fig. 1d; Fig. 1e). These inscriptions record the creator of the icon, the date of completion, and devotional messages Ephesus Day Trips.
Left-Side Inscription
The inscription on the left reads in Greek:
“H nAPOYCA EIK^N ANICTOPH0H AIA XEIPOC MOYPATI KAIEAPE^C EN KAIPQ TOY ATIOY APXIF.PF.OC HM^N NEOKAICAPIAC KYPOY KYPIAAOY. EN FTFI AQKT>. MAPTIOY KZÇ. {1823}”
In simple English, this means:
“The present image (this icon) was created by the hand of Murat of Kaisareia at the time of our Holy Archpriest of Neokaisareia, Mr. Kyrillos, on March 27, 1823.”
This inscription clearly documents the artist, place, and date of creation, providing valuable historical information. It also shows the connection between the icon and the local religious authority.
Right-Side Inscription
The right-side inscription is in Karamanli, a Turkish dialect written with Greek letters, often used by Greek Orthodox communities in Anatolia. The text reads:
(Transcribed as) “For Allah’in peker baletesi (Bold/Courageous Mother of God), sanatir izokup kozgiasi ile riza ederim (I beg you kneeling), senin oglun from your son, ve bizim Allah’imiza riza eyle (and from our God’s blessing), hatta ebediyet kazepten kurtarsin (let him save us from wrath) zira bilirim ki (because I do know)… ve kobgiuzu padisahligina nail oldular (they have the honour of becoming celestial rulers) The Icon’s Main Figures.”
In simpler English, this can be understood as a prayer of devotion and gratitude directed to the Virgin Mary, asking her for blessings, protection, and salvation. It reflects the personal and communal devotional practice of the period, showing that the icon was not only decorative but also a spiritual tool for prayer.
Significance of the Inscriptions
These inscriptions highlight the cultural and religious context of the icon. The Greek inscription emphasizes the formal, historical record—who painted the icon and when. The Karamanli text emphasizes personal devotion, connecting the viewer with the sacred figures depicted. Together, they show how icons functioned as both artistic objects and spiritual guides.
The combination of floral decoration, dual-language inscriptions, and careful iconography makes this icon a valuable example of post-Byzantine religious art. It illustrates how Orthodox communities in Anatolia combined traditional Byzantine forms with local devotional practices and personal prayers. The inscriptions also preserve the names of artists, patrons, and dates, providing insight into the social and religious life of the 19th century.
