Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (2.1883-1884(1888))

262

AN EPIGRAPHICAL JOURNEY

The Antonine Itinerary for the whole Antitauran region seems to
be hopelessly confused, and its inconsistencies will perhaps never be
satisfactorily explained. On p. 210 we read : —

A Coduzalaba
Comana XXVI
Siricis XXIIII

while on page 211 we have the following :—■

Item a Caesarea Anazarbo CCXL, sic :

Arasaxa XXIIII

Coduzalaba XXIIII

Comana XXIIII

Siricis XVI

Cocuso XXV

Now the milliaria given above show that the Roman road between
Comana and Cocussus went, as one would naturally expect, by Yalak,
Kiirdkieui, and Mehemet Beikieui; and as the whole distance between
Shahr and Goksiin is reckoned as eight hours, there is plainly some-
thing wrong in the statements of the Antonine Itinerary. Both Yalak
and Kiirdkieui are sites of small ancient towns; but the most im-
portant of these was at Yalak, and at Yalak I am inclined to place
Siricae. In that case the Antonine Itinerary would be nearer the
truth if it were emended to read ; —

Comana XXIIII
Siricis VI
Cccuso XV

Let it be noted that this, besides being a direct route, is the only
natural road-bed between Comana and Cocussus : on the northeast
lies the Bin Bogha Dagh, and on the southwest the Yuvadja Dagh.
It is wholly unreasonable to suppose that the Romans would neglect
the only natural road-bed to carry a road over the huge mountains
just mentioned.

July 26. Yalak to Mehemet Reikieui, 3 h. 35 m. We return in.
the direction of Goksiin.