DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0250
224 VI. COLOSSAI AND THE ROADS TO THE EAST.
valley, in a fine situation looking over the intermediate hills to
Yan-Dagh, Cadmos, and Salbakos, with abundant water-supply, and
luxuriant vegetation clothing the hillside, where numerous marbles
give signs of old civilization. On a rock high above the village, there
are said to be the walls of an old fortress (hale); the situation is
characteristic of the Byzantine fortress generally, e. g. Justinianopolis-
Palia (Sivri-Hissar) or Khonai \
This Byzantine castle, beside an important Byzantine road, and
overhanging Oikokome, must be identified as Justinianopolis; and
the double title of the bishopric becomes clear. Now it commands
the country of the Siblianoi; and therefore the fortress Soublaion,
which is mentioned by Nicetas p. 250 and Cinnamus p. 298, may
probably be identified with it. This identification is proved by a
consideration of the two passages.
Manuel Conmenus resolved to make a great effort to break the
Turkish power; and he began by refortifying a strong position on
each of the two great roads by which communication with Iconium
was maintained, Dorylaion on the direct road from Constantinople
and Soublaion on the road from the Aegean coast. He chose the
second route for delivering his great blow ; and in the spring of 1176,
after wintering at Khonai, he marched directly against Iconium, by
way of Lampe and Khoma2. Nicetas here uses the name Khoma,
where previously he used the name Soublaion ; the two therefore must
be identical; we have already seen that Justinianopolis and Khoma
were identical. Khoma, the fortress Soublaion3, and Justinianopolis
are therefore all names of one place.
It is certainly strange that Manuel should march by Khoma, in
place of taking the road by Apameia, for the latter route was proba-
bly used by John Comnenus when he captured and held Sozopolis;
but the statements of Nicetas seem clear that he took the way of
Khoma both going4 and returning5. His march and that of Frede-
1 I have not visited it. Sterrett and 3 to 2ou/3Xniov must here apparently
I started from Khoma one morning in be taken as an adjectival form with
i8S3todoso; but after a considerable mo-rpov understood. But it seems
ascent, we saw it still high above us; possible that Xu^io 2ou/3A<uoi> was dis-
and, having before us a long journey to tinguished from XZ/ui 'S.aiuqvov which lay
Sanduklu over an unknown road, and further east, and if that be so, ~2.ovfi\<uov
being led by report to expect nothing would have to be taken as a short term
but bare walls at the Kale, we desisted. for Khoma of the Sublaian country.
2 els kdfi-nr]v "lkcto . . . , KaKeWev els to 4 els to Xwpa e\6av p. 231.
Xcopa eXBcbv tco MvpLOKe(pd\(ti ecpioTaTaL' to pev 2ov(3keov eniiiapiuiv KaOaipel
(ppovpLOV Se touto naKatbv Kai aoiKrjTOV. p. 250.
Nicet. p. 230.
valley, in a fine situation looking over the intermediate hills to
Yan-Dagh, Cadmos, and Salbakos, with abundant water-supply, and
luxuriant vegetation clothing the hillside, where numerous marbles
give signs of old civilization. On a rock high above the village, there
are said to be the walls of an old fortress (hale); the situation is
characteristic of the Byzantine fortress generally, e. g. Justinianopolis-
Palia (Sivri-Hissar) or Khonai \
This Byzantine castle, beside an important Byzantine road, and
overhanging Oikokome, must be identified as Justinianopolis; and
the double title of the bishopric becomes clear. Now it commands
the country of the Siblianoi; and therefore the fortress Soublaion,
which is mentioned by Nicetas p. 250 and Cinnamus p. 298, may
probably be identified with it. This identification is proved by a
consideration of the two passages.
Manuel Conmenus resolved to make a great effort to break the
Turkish power; and he began by refortifying a strong position on
each of the two great roads by which communication with Iconium
was maintained, Dorylaion on the direct road from Constantinople
and Soublaion on the road from the Aegean coast. He chose the
second route for delivering his great blow ; and in the spring of 1176,
after wintering at Khonai, he marched directly against Iconium, by
way of Lampe and Khoma2. Nicetas here uses the name Khoma,
where previously he used the name Soublaion ; the two therefore must
be identical; we have already seen that Justinianopolis and Khoma
were identical. Khoma, the fortress Soublaion3, and Justinianopolis
are therefore all names of one place.
It is certainly strange that Manuel should march by Khoma, in
place of taking the road by Apameia, for the latter route was proba-
bly used by John Comnenus when he captured and held Sozopolis;
but the statements of Nicetas seem clear that he took the way of
Khoma both going4 and returning5. His march and that of Frede-
1 I have not visited it. Sterrett and 3 to 2ou/3Xniov must here apparently
I started from Khoma one morning in be taken as an adjectival form with
i8S3todoso; but after a considerable mo-rpov understood. But it seems
ascent, we saw it still high above us; possible that Xu^io 2ou/3A<uoi> was dis-
and, having before us a long journey to tinguished from XZ/ui 'S.aiuqvov which lay
Sanduklu over an unknown road, and further east, and if that be so, ~2.ovfi\<uov
being led by report to expect nothing would have to be taken as a short term
but bare walls at the Kale, we desisted. for Khoma of the Sublaian country.
2 els kdfi-nr]v "lkcto . . . , KaKeWev els to 4 els to Xwpa e\6av p. 231.
Xcopa eXBcbv tco MvpLOKe(pd\(ti ecpioTaTaL' to pev 2ov(3keov eniiiapiuiv KaOaipel
(ppovpLOV Se touto naKatbv Kai aoiKrjTOV. p. 250.
Nicet. p. 230.