Pompeiopolis

Pompeiopolis was a Roman city-state and a titular see in ancient Paphlagonia, situated today in the Taşköprü district, Kastamonu, Turkey. The exact location is 45 km north of Kastamonu, to the north of Taşköprü, in the valley today known as Gökırmak (Roman name Amnias, or Amneus). The borders of Pompeiopolis reach the Küre mountains to the north, Ilgaz mountains to the south, Halys river to the east and Pınarbaşı valley to the west. The city remnants today consist of an acropolis, rock-cut tombs, tumuli, a bridge and remains of houses with mosaic tile floors. It is believed that many more artifacts and remnants can be uncovered if further archaeological diggings can be conducted at the Zımbıllı hills within the city boundaries.

Pompeiopolis is said to have been established together with Andrapa-Neapolis by the Roman general and politician Pompey (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus) in the year 64 BC in the double province of Bithynia - Pontus. The town, which ranked as a metropolis, was annexed to the vassal princes of Paphlagonia, and in 6 BC, after the death of Deiotaros Philadelpho, the last king of Paphlagonia, annexed to the Galatia province of the Roman Empire. While the city flourished and grew during this period, it was the metropolis of Paphlagonia from the reign of Antoninus Pius to Gallienus. The city was called Sebaste for a short period of time during the patronship of Claudius Severus, Marcus Aurelius' son-in-law. Rare coins surviving from that era bear the inscriptions "Sebaste Metropolis of Paphlagonia".

It is believed that Pompeiopolis was shortly deserted in late 6th or early 7th centuries AD due to the attacks of Persian or Arab tribes, and with the rearrangements of the Byzantine emperor Justinian. Probably in conjunction with the reorganization of the province, Pompeiopolis received the title autocephalus archdiocese. The region was conquered by the Turks in 11th century; also in the same period, Pompeiopolis became a metropolitan see until the 14th century when the diocese was suppressed. Among the fourteen titulars of the diocese are Philadelphus at the First Council of Nicaea, Severus of Constantinople and Theodore of Constantinople.

The antic city and the remains will be preserved and exhibited by a Museum of Archaeology that is planned to be built in Taşköprü by the Turkish Ministry of Culture. The first excavations in the area were conducted in 1910 which revealed some columns and mosaic tile panels, however, a devastating fire that broke out in 1927 in the nearby residential area had greatly harmed the ruins. Many of the artifacts that were revealed in the excavations are currently being exhibited in the Museum of Archaeology of Kastamonu. Since 2006 the university of Munich (Germany) is conducting excavations on the archaeological site.

The Pompeiopolis in Pahphlagonia must not be confused with the Soloi-Pompeiopolis in Cilicia, also established by Pompeius.

References and external links

* [http://www.kastamonu.gov.tr/html/001.html Article by Prof. Dr. Nusret ARAS, Rector of the Ankara University]

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12226a.htm Pompeiopolis, Catholic Encyclopedia]

* [http://www.klass-archaeologie.lmu.de/Pompeiopolis/index.html Report about excavations of the university of Munich]