Hyrcanis (Lydia)
Hyrcanis or Hyrkaneis, also known as Hyrcania (Ancient Greek: Ὑρκανία), was a Roman and Byzantine-era city[1] and bishopric in ancient Lydia, now in western Turkey. It was situated in the Hyrcanian plain (τὸ Ὑρκάνιον πεδίον), which is said to have derived its name from a colony of Hyrcanians being settled here by the Persians.[2][3] They were afterwards mingled with some Macedonians, who also settled in this district, whence they are called by Pliny the Elder and Tacitus "Macedones Hyrcani."[4] The city minted its own coins.[5][6]
Its site is located west of Halit Paşa in Asiatic Turkey,[7][8] south of Çamlıyurt.
The city was also the seat of an ancient bishopric. Known bishops include:
- Asyncritus
- John, attendee at First Council of Constantinople
- Eustathius
- Dionysius fl. 1157[9]
References
- Back to citation Ruth Lindner, Mythos und Identität: Studien zur Selbstdarstellung kleinasiatischer Städte in der römischen Kaiserzeit (Franz Steiner Verlag, 1994) p128.
- Back to citation Strabo. Geographica. Vol. xiii. p.629. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
- Back to citation Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v. Ὑρκανία.
- Back to citation Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Book 5.29.31; Tacitus. Annales. Vol. 2.47; "Titular See of Hyrcanis, Turkiye"; "Hyrcanis (Titular See) [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
- Back to citation Ancient Coinage of Lydia, Hyrkanis.
- Back to citation Hyrkaneis at Asia Minor Coins.
- Back to citation Talbert, Richard, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9, with accompanying Map-by-Map Directory.
- Back to citation Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
- Back to citation Michel Le Quien, Oriens christianus p887.