Soter derives from the Greek epithet σωτήρ (sōtēr), meaning a saviour, a deliverer; initial capitalised Σωτήρ; fully capitalised ΣΩΤΗΡ; feminine Soteira (Σώτειρα) or sometimes Soteria (Σωτηρία).
"Soter" was used as:
- a title of gods: Poseidon Soter, Zeus Soter, Dionysus Soter, Apollo Soter, Hades Soter, Helios Soter, Athena Soteira, Asclepius Soter, and Hecate Soteira.
- the name of a distinct mythical figure, Soter (daimon)
- an epithet of several heroized or deified leaders of Hellenistic dynasties, see Hellenistic ruler cult:
- Antigonus Monophthalmus (382 to 301 BCE), awarded the title for liberating Athens from Cassander
- Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt (reigned 323-283 BCE)
- Antiochus I Soter of the Seleucid Empire (reigned 281-261 BCE)
- Demetrius I Soter of the Seleucid Empire (reigned 161-150 BCE)
- Diomedes Soter
- Dionysios Soter
- Polyxenos Epiphanes Soter
- Rabbel II Soter
- Attalus I
- Seleucus III Ceraunus
- Ptolemy IX (died 81 BCE), twice king of Ptolemaic Egypt
- Diodotus I
- Strato II
- Strato I
- Menander I (died 130 BCE), Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek king
- a title of liberators (see also eleutherios (disambiguation)
- a title of Jesus of Nazareth, which came into use some time after the death of Paul the Apostle,[1] most particularly in the fish acronym
- the term "God our Saviour" (Greek: θεῷ σωτῆρι ἡμῶν, dative) occurs several times in the New Testament, in the Epistle of Jude,[2] 1 Timothy and Titus.
- Pope Soter, r. ca. 167 – 174.
See also
- Hellenistic religion
- Messiah
- Soteria (disambiguation)
- Soteriology, the study of salvation; in Christian contexts, the branch of Christology dealing with Jesus' capacity as Saviour of humankind
- Sozusa (disambiguation)