1. Location – Name

Pompeiopolis was a city in Paphlagonia, in the valley of the river Amnios, north of mount Olgassos. It was located on the Zımbıllı Tepe hill, near the modern-day settlement of Taşköprü. The chora of the city included the northern slopes of mount Olgassos to the south and the southern slopes of Küre Dağları to the north. The eastern part of the chora most probably included the region of Pimolisene, whereas the western part of the chora most probably extended up to Pınarbaşı valley.¹

The name of the city, which, according to the sources, was “Pompeiopolis” or “Pompeioupolis”, came from the Roman general Pompey. It is most probably identified with Sebaste, a city known from its coinage issues only. The identification is based on the fact that both cities were metropolises of Paphlagonia on the one hand and on the absence of coinage issues from Pompeiopolis dating back to the same era as the coinage issues from Sebaste, that is to say during Antoninus Pius’ (138-161 AD) and Lucius Aurelius Verus’ (161-169 AD) reigns, on the other. According to this evidence, Pompeiopolis was most probably renamed to Sebaste for a short period of time during the reign of the aforementioned emperors, but the older name finally prevailed.²

2. Historical review (Roman rule)

Pompeiopolis was founded in 64/65 BC and was one of the eleven cities founded by Pompey in the Pontic part of the new Roman province of Pontus – Bithynia. The first settlers of the city were most probably Pompey’s veteran soldiers. In 40 or 37 BC, Antony wrested the mainland of Paphlagonia, along with Pompeiopolis, from the province of Pontus – Bithynia and ceded it to the kingdom of Paphlagonia. Following the breakdown of the kingdom of Paphlagonia in 6/5 BC, the city was integrated into the Roman province of Galatia. The historical evidence attests to the historical continuity of the city until the Byzantine period.³

The founding of Pompeiopolis in the valley of the river Amnios provided its citizens with sufficient food and water. Moreover, its location on the main military road artery of northern Asia Minor decisively contributed to its development. As a result, Pompeiopolis became the metropolis of Paphlagonia, as evidenced from coins and inscriptions of the 2^nd century AD.⁴ Pompeiopolis was politically autonomous during the period of its integration into the Roman province of Pontus – Bithynia, but not during the period of its incorporation into the kingdom of Paphlagonia. The restoration of its autonomous status after its integration into the Roman province of Galatia in 6/5 BC marked the beginning of a new era for the city, as evidenced from the adoption of a new dating system, starting from that year. The political organization of Pompeiopolis and various other cities of the province of Pontus – Bithynia was determined by Pompey’s law. The most important magistrates of the city were the archons, a body of three to five officials, elected annually and chaired by the first archon. This regime greatly emphasizes the duties of the censores who were responsible, among other things, for the implementation of the provisions of Pompey’s law regarding enfranchisement and election requirements for the members of the Boule.⁵ The title of metropolis, which the city bore from the 2^nd century AD onwards, suggests that the city was the seat of the Koinon of Paphlagonia. During Hadrian’s reign, Pompeiopolis was a member of the Koinon of Pontus.⁶

3. Urban organization

The city extended along both banks of the river Amnios. However, the main settlement was built on two levels, on an oblong, low hill rising on the northern bank. There were also two sets of fortified walls. The first encompassed the entire city, whereas the second encompassed the top of the hill and the acropolis of the city. The acropolis was approximately 160 m long x 60 m wide. Among the surviving archaeological ruins, there are parts of the wall of the acropolis and ruins of a temple. Two building complexes of the Late Imperial period with mosaics and water supply systems were found to the east of the hill. Near the city, there most probably was a stone bridge, a precursor of the bridge in the same region still surviving nowadays.⁷