Sebastia

This name derives from the Ancient Greek “sébas (σέβας) sebastós (σεβαστός),” and later from the Latin name “Sebastianus.” Sebaste is the name of a town in Asia Minor, present-day Sivas. Sebastos was the Greek translation of the Latin title “Augustus,” which was used for Roman emperors. Sebastian became a widely used name because it was the name of Saint Sebastian, a third-century Christian martyr. It is said that he was killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians. He is commonly depicted in art and literature tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows. It is the most common artistic depiction of Sebastian; however, according to legend, he was rescued and healed by Irene of Rome.