Grotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, Ephesus
A hillside cave with the oldest painted image of Paul found in Asia
Found 1906 — Noted by Otto Benndorf (Austrian Archaeological Institute) in 1906; investigated by Franz Miltner in 1955; wall paintings uncovered in 1998 by Renate Pillinger's team (University of Vienna / ÖAI)
Where Bülbüldağ, Ephesus (Efes) (Turkey)
Dates from Cave used from the 2nd century CE; Paul–Thecla painting c. 5th–6th century CE · Late Roman–Byzantine · Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19); Acts of Paul and Thecla (2nd-century legend)
Now at In situ (closed to general visitors); documented by the Austrian Archaeological Institute
Names a biblical person Paul, Thecla (Not contemporary: 5th/6th-century CE fresco captions PAVLOS and THEKLA, plus later Greek graffiti prayers to Paul; Thecla is apocryphal, not biblical.)
How Grotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, Ephesus was found
Restorers cleaning whitewash from the walls of a small cave on Bülbüldağ in 1998 found five layers of painting. One shows Paul seated with a scroll, Thecla listening at a window, and her mother Theocleia — all named in painted Greek.
What it is
A rock-cut chamber about 15 m deep whose walls carry around 300 Greek graffiti — many prayers such as 'Paul, help your servant' — and layers of fresco. The best-known scene shows PAVLOS teaching, THEKLA at her window and her mother THEOKLIA, matching the story in the Acts of Paul and Thecla.
Why it matters for the Bible
This is the only monumental image of Paul yet found at Ephesus and one of the earliest anywhere. It proves that by the 5th century the Ephesians honoured a cave as Paul's, and that the legend of Thecla — the young woman of Iconium converted by his preaching — was painted as history. The prayers scratched on the walls show ordinary pilgrims calling on Paul's name. Whether Paul ever used the cave cannot be known.
The Hebrew word: shah-OOL
שָׁאוּל
שָׁאוּל is pronounced shah-OOL and means Shaul (Saul), 'asked for' — Paul's Hebrew name (Strong's H7586).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (shah-OOL) — 'asked for'; Latin Paulus
Places
- Ephesus — אֶפֶסוֹס (EH-feh-sos) — Greek Ephesos
Events
Paul's ministry at Ephesus · Legend of Paul and Thecla
Grotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, Ephesus in Scripture
Acts 14:1 Paul at Iconium, where the later legend places Thecla's conversion.
Acts 18:19 First mention of Ephesus in Scripture.
Acts 19:9-10 Paul teaching daily at Ephesus; the fresco shows him as teacher with a scroll.
Questions people ask
What is Grotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, Ephesus?
A rock-cut chamber about 15 m deep whose walls carry around 300 Greek graffiti — many prayers such as 'Paul, help your servant' — and layers of fresco. The best-known scene shows PAVLOS teaching, THEKLA at her window and her mother THEOKLIA, matching the story in the Acts of Paul and Thecla.
When was Grotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, Ephesus discovered?
It was found in 1906 by Noted by Otto Benndorf (Austrian Archaeological Institute) in 1906; investigated by Franz Miltner in 1955; wall paintings uncovered in 1998 by Renate Pillinger's team (University of Vienna / ÖAI), at Bülbüldağ, Ephesus (Efes).
Where is Grotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, Ephesus today?
In situ (closed to general visitors); documented by the Austrian Archaeological Institute.
Which Bible verses does Grotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, Ephesus relate to?
Acts 14:1, Acts 18:19, Acts 19:9-10.
Related discoveries
- אַרְטֶמִיסTemple of Artemis at EphesusOne of the Seven Wonders, whose silver shrines sparked the riot against Paul
- תֵּאַטְרוֹןGreat Theater of EphesusThe 24,000-seat theater where the silversmiths' riot shouted 'Great is Artemis'
- קְהִלָּהCuretes Street and the Library of Celsus, EphesusThe marble city Paul walked — with a landmark built a generation after him
- בַּיִתTerrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of EphesusWealthy homes of the city where Paul taught for two years
- דֶּרֶךְVia Egnatia and the Port of NeapolisThe Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
- תַּרְשִׁישׁTarsus: The Roman Road and Cleopatra's GatePaved street and city gate of Paul's 'no mean city'
Sources
- The Grotto of St. Paul in Ephesus (University of Vienna, Classical Archaeology)
- Grotto of Saint Paul (NASSCAL)
- The Grotto of Saint Paul in Ephesus (BiblePlaces blog)
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