DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0239
2. PEOPLE AND STATE. 213
to have been grecized to suggest a derivation from koXocto-os ; but the
form KoXacraaL which became common in later time1 is probably
a truer representation of the Phrygian word. The ethnic was among
the more educated KoXoa-arjvos, but the more illiterate form KoXacr-
o-aevs has the appearance of being nearer the native form.
§ 3. Khonai. The territory of Colossal rose to importance again
under the Byzantine Empire. When hordes of Sassanians or Saracens
were ravaging the country, when every valley and glen north of
Taurus was in constant dread of sudden attack, a suitable fortress
was found at Khonai, three miles S.S.E. from Colossai. Neither Colos-
sal nor Laodiceia was safe. Both required careful fortification, good
garrisons and well-trained vigilant officers ; but in the disorganization
of the Empire during the seventh century none of these existed. But,
whereas a raid was constantly to be dreaded, there was no risk of
a formal siege from the loose Saracen armies; and accordingly the
safest stronghold was one on a lofty rock, which was proof against
an assault, though incapable of being provisioned against a long siege.
The castle of Khonai was built perhaps by Justinian2, as part of his
general scheme of defence; but long after his time the centre of
population continued at the convenient situation of Colossai. In the
seventh or eighth century, however, the population gradually moved
away to a new situation on a shelf right under the castle, high above
the plain. In a.d. 787 at Cone. Nicaen. II, the bishop bore the double
title Yovovvtos 3 rjTOL KoXaaaaewv., which implies according to a com-
mon custom that he bore the title of Colossai, but was in actual fact
bishop of Khonai. The memory of Colossai still remained in 787,
but at the Council of 869 it had disappeared, and the bishop took
his title from Khonai; and the same is the case with the later
Notitiae.
So thoroughly did the name Khonai supplant that of Colossai and
merly read, gave the ethnic ~K.okocn.vos, however, Khonai may have been created
but more recent copies have Ko\or]v6s. by the Arab wars of the seventh and
Another Koloe was in the Katakekau- eighth centuries,
mene. 3 This is an extremely corrupt form :
1 It is found in MSS. of the New in most of the Actiones the name is
Testament (especially in the superscrip- given simply as Xavav, with no alter-
tion of the Epistle which was added native expression. In 692 the name is
later, and to a small extent also in the simply nokeus Kokao-o-arjs. The change
text I 1) and in many Byzantine lists: of site had therefore not been officially
see Lightfoot Colossians p. 17 f. recognized in that year; whereas it is
2 This cannot be proved; but Jus- evident that in 7S7 the bishop resided
tinianopolis-Khoma seems to belong to at Khonai, which he mentions first in
the same scheme as Khonai. Perhaps, his signature.
to have been grecized to suggest a derivation from koXocto-os ; but the
form KoXacraaL which became common in later time1 is probably
a truer representation of the Phrygian word. The ethnic was among
the more educated KoXoa-arjvos, but the more illiterate form KoXacr-
o-aevs has the appearance of being nearer the native form.
§ 3. Khonai. The territory of Colossal rose to importance again
under the Byzantine Empire. When hordes of Sassanians or Saracens
were ravaging the country, when every valley and glen north of
Taurus was in constant dread of sudden attack, a suitable fortress
was found at Khonai, three miles S.S.E. from Colossai. Neither Colos-
sal nor Laodiceia was safe. Both required careful fortification, good
garrisons and well-trained vigilant officers ; but in the disorganization
of the Empire during the seventh century none of these existed. But,
whereas a raid was constantly to be dreaded, there was no risk of
a formal siege from the loose Saracen armies; and accordingly the
safest stronghold was one on a lofty rock, which was proof against
an assault, though incapable of being provisioned against a long siege.
The castle of Khonai was built perhaps by Justinian2, as part of his
general scheme of defence; but long after his time the centre of
population continued at the convenient situation of Colossai. In the
seventh or eighth century, however, the population gradually moved
away to a new situation on a shelf right under the castle, high above
the plain. In a.d. 787 at Cone. Nicaen. II, the bishop bore the double
title Yovovvtos 3 rjTOL KoXaaaaewv., which implies according to a com-
mon custom that he bore the title of Colossai, but was in actual fact
bishop of Khonai. The memory of Colossai still remained in 787,
but at the Council of 869 it had disappeared, and the bishop took
his title from Khonai; and the same is the case with the later
Notitiae.
So thoroughly did the name Khonai supplant that of Colossai and
merly read, gave the ethnic ~K.okocn.vos, however, Khonai may have been created
but more recent copies have Ko\or]v6s. by the Arab wars of the seventh and
Another Koloe was in the Katakekau- eighth centuries,
mene. 3 This is an extremely corrupt form :
1 It is found in MSS. of the New in most of the Actiones the name is
Testament (especially in the superscrip- given simply as Xavav, with no alter-
tion of the Epistle which was added native expression. In 692 the name is
later, and to a small extent also in the simply nokeus Kokao-o-arjs. The change
text I 1) and in many Byzantine lists: of site had therefore not been officially
see Lightfoot Colossians p. 17 f. recognized in that year; whereas it is
2 This cannot be proved; but Jus- evident that in 7S7 the bishop resided
tinianopolis-Khoma seems to belong to at Khonai, which he mentions first in
the same scheme as Khonai. Perhaps, his signature.