soter

Soter is a word and proper name with Greek origins. In Greek, σωτήρ (sōtér) means “savior” or “deliverer,” and the term appears as a masculine noun used as both a generic title and a personal name.

In the Hellenistic world, Soter was adopted as an epithet by several rulers to signal their role as protectors or deliverers. Notable bearers include Ptolemy I Soter, founder of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, and Antiochus I Soter of the Seleucid Empire. The epithet often appeared on coins and inscriptions to convey legitimacy and guardianship.

In Christian usage, Soter functions as a title for Jesus Christ, translated as “the Savior” in Greek-language scripture and tradition. The term appears in the New Testament and early patristic writings to emphasize salvation and deliverance through faith.

In contemporary contexts, Soter also appears as a given-name element in Greek, commonly in forms such as Sotirios or Sotiris, and occasionally as an Anglicized or shortened form in other languages. The name retains its semantic link to the idea of salvation, though its use varies by culture and period.

See also Soteriology, the branch of theology dealing with salvation, and related epithets used by Hellenistic rulers and early Christian authors to convey divine protection, deliverance, and legitimacy.