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Flaviopolis

Συγγραφή : Panagopoulou Katerina
Μετάφραση : Chrysanthopoulos Dimitrios

Για παραπομπή: Panagopoulou Katerina, "Flaviopolis",
Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία
URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=12371>
Φλαβιόπολις (11/11/2009 v.1) Flaviopolis (6/5/2011 v.1) 
 

1. Geographical location – Administrative subordination

The city of Flaviopolis, located in the Characene region, is most probably associated – based on inscriptions found in situ – with modern-day Kadırlı (Kars Pazar) on the Savrun Çayı river, to the northeast of the Cilician plain, approximately 160 km from Adana.1 The name of the ancient site is not mentioned in the inscriptions. Nevertheless, most researchers believe that the Cilician city, known as Flaviopolis, which was founded in 74 AD by the Roman emperor Vespasian (69-79 AD), was located there. Flaviopolis is also associated with Flavias, known from literary sources.2

Flaviopolis was founded as part of the imperial programme to urbanize the Cilician plain and was included (under the name Flavias) by Hierocles in the cities of Cilicia II. It is suggested that its foundation was associated with its incorporation into the Roman province of Cilicia.3 Until then, the surrounding rural region and the city of Anazarbus (the later capital of the province of Cilicia Secunda) were most probably ruled by the royal dynasty of Hierapolis Castabala. According to the Itinerarium Antoninianum, Flaviopolis (Flavias) was the first city after Anazarbus on the road to Cocyssos (Göksün) of Cappadocia. Part of the road and several milestones survive until today. During the Christian period, the city became a diocese of Cilicia II.

2. Financial life

The integration of the city into the road network connecting Cilicia and Cappadocia and public works such as the preserved Roman bridge in Tozlu on the Savrun Çayı river, 5 km north of Anazarbus, played a significant role. In 89/90 AD, the city issued a copper coin with five denominations.4 These coins, with the inscription ΦΛΑΟΥΙΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ on the reverse, suggest that the city adopted a new dating system, starting from the year 73/74 AD.5 Another remarkable finding from the ancient site is a bronze statue of emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD), discovered in Κadırlı in 1932.

3. Religious life

The city played a significant role as a religious administrative centre. The cults of the Dioscuri, the goddess Tyche and Cronus, as well as Dionysus during the second half of the 1st century AD, can be deduced from numismatic iconography. The Early Byzantine findings from the region are also important: a mosaic floor6 and several building blocks belonging to a church as well as a second, probably suburban, Early Byzantine church, which survived as an Armenian church and was later converted into a mosque (Ala Cami) with a minaret dating back to 1489/1490 AD. A large three-aisled church with a later narthex, dating back to the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century AD, has also been excavated. Apparently, the older ruins were covered by the more recent buildings.

4. Byzantine period

As a diocese of Cilicia II during the Christian period, Flaviopolis came under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch. The first known bishop was Alexander, ruling during Septimius Severus’ reign (193-211 AD). Niketas participated in the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and Antioch (341 AD) and John participated in the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD). The monophysite bishop Procopius of Flavias ruled at the beginning of the 6th century AD. The diocese was represented by Andrew in the Council of Mopsuestia (550 AD) and George in 680/681 AD. At the end of 969 AD, during Nikephoros Phokas’ reign, bishop Eustratius of Flavias became the patriarch of Antioch and his diocese, which was co-ruled by him and the metropolitan of Anazarbus until then, was integrated into the patriarchate of Antioch. Nevertheless, the reformation did not last long. At the beginning of 970 AD, Theodore of Colonea was acclaimed patriarch of Antioch. From then onwards, Flavias came under the jurisdiction of the metropolis of Anazarbus, according to the notitiae. During Diocletian’s reign, Julian of Anazarbus must have martyred in Flaviopolis.

1. Ptol., Strat. 5.7.6, 5.8.6. M. Gough rejects the association of Flaviopolis with Kozan (120 kms northeast of Adana) because there are not any pre-armenian ruins or indications of an ancient road after the ruins of Anazarbus, 35 kms to the south: PECS, p. 330, see entry “Flaviopolis (Kadirli)” (M. Gough); see also Moutafian, C., La Cilicie au Carrefour des Empires 1-2 (Paris 1988), p. 294, note 22. He associates Flavias with Flaviopolis, but locates it in modern-day Kozan, ancient Sis, the capital of the armenian kingdom of Cilicia during the Middle Ages; see also RE 6 II (1909), see entry “Φλαβιόπολις” (W. Ruge). On the association of Anazarbus with Kadirli (Kars Pazar), see Bent, J.T., “Recent discoveries in Eastern Cilicia”, JHS 11 (1890), p. 233.

2. In favour of the association of Flaviopolis with Flavias are Moutafian, C., La Cilicie au Carrefour des Empires 1-2 (Paris 1988), p. 294; Magie, D., Roman Rule in Asia Minor. To the End of the Third Century after Christ 2 (Princeton 1950), p. 1440 onwards; Hild, F. – Hellenkemper, H., Kilikien und Isaurien (TIB 5.1, Vienna 1990), pp. 378-379. W. Ruge rejects the view (see note 1).

3. Apparently, a town near the temple in Olba/Diocaesarea was also incorporated into the roman province of Cilicia during the same period, according to a coin dating back to Domitian’s reign: Magie, D., Roman Rule in Asia Minor. To the End of the Third Century after Christ 2 (Princeton 1950), pp. 576, 1440.

4. The denominations of the copper coin were as follows: dupondius (28 mm, 13,28 g), as (22 mm, 7,31 g), semis (18 mm), triens (16 mm, 3.04 g), quadrans (14 mm, 2,51 g): RPC 2, no. 1757-1761; Imhoof-Blumer, F., Kleinasiatische Munzen 1-2 (Vienna 1902), p. 445; Head, B.V., Historia Nummorum: A Manual of Greek Numismatics (Oxford 1913), p. 602.

5. The adoption of the new dating system of Flaviopolis does not necessarily coincide with the establishment of the roman province of Cilicia. It is unclear whether the foundation of the city and the establishment of the province of Cilicia coincide: Magie, D., Roman Rule in Asia Minor. To the End of the Third Century after Christ 2 (Princeton 1950), p. 1440; see also Imhoof-Blumer, F., Kleinasiatische Munzen 1-2 (Vienna 1902), p. 445.

6. Hicks, E.L., “Inscriptions from Eastern Cilicia”, JHS 11 (1980), pp. 236-254, ibid. p. 236 onwards.
     
 
 
 
 
 

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