1. Location-Name
In Antiquity, Berbe was a town in SW Pisidia. It was located in the Taurus Valley, near Andeda. It has been identified1 with a small ancient settlement at the modern village of Yelten (formerly known as Yerten), which lies 8 km to the SE of Pogla and 3 km to the south of Andeda.2
An inscription found in Andeda confirms the vicinity of Berbe.3 The inscription refers to a high priest, who was a citizen of Andeda but also a priest in Berbe. That topographical information is documented by Hierocles.4
Berbe is not mentioned by ancient sources. On inscriptions and coins dated to the Imperial period the national name Ourbianon occurs. However, the name of the ancient city cannot be restored with certainty.5 Nevertheless, later sources attest the names Barbe and Berbe.6
2. History-Archaeology
Information about the history of the town is scanty. Inscriptions testify the presence of a boule and a demos in the Imperial period, as well as of games. Berbe participated in the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
The town issued coins for the first time during Commodus’ reign (180-192) and continued until the mid-3rd century. The tendency to represent certain deities on the reverse, as well as their references on inscriptions is considered an indication for their cult in Berbe.7
Only very few ruins are visible nowadays around Yelten, such as stone blocks, bases and reliefs.
1. Woodward, A.M.- Ormerod, H.A., “A Journey in South-Western Asia Minor”, BSA 16 (1909-1910), pp. 76-136, esp. 7-15; Woodward, A.M., “Inscriptions from Western Pisidia”, BSA 17 (1910-1911), pp. 205-214.esp. 209-210, no. 6.
2. The identification of Verve with modern Zivint which is located to the east is not acceptable. See Woodward, A.M.- Ormerod, H.A., “A Journey in South-Western Asia Minor”, BSA 16 (1909-1910), pp. 121-122.
3. IGR III, 447, v. 11-12: «…εν τη Ουερβιανών πόλει…».
4. Hierocl. Synecd. 680.6.
5. RE Suppl. 14 (1974), col. 830-831, see ‘Verbe’ (B. Levick). Apart from the inscription from Andeda, cf. SNG von Aulock (1964), no. 5.379-5.381.
6. Notitiae Episcopatuum 1.454, 3.405, 8.503, 9.414, 10.520, 13.370 (reference to Varve which is considered corruption of Verve). The name Varaeis also has survived, Notitiae Episcopatuum 7.226. Cf. Hierocl. Synecd. 680.6, where the type Verve.
7. The iconography includes Dioscouri, Athena, Artemis, Tyche and Dionysus. In addition, Heracles is mentioned in the inscriptions.