DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4680#0116
24. APAMEIA IN THE BYZANTINE PERIOD. 447
seems to have been situated between the Turkish Apameia and the
Byzantine Siblia1. When John Comnenus advanced to Sozopolis-
Apollonia, and recaptured it, Apameia perhaps reverted for the time
into the Emperor's hands ; but his lordship could have only been, at
the best, very uncertain. Sozopolis, a very strong fortress, could be
held better; but Apameia, open and defenceless, must have fallen an
easy prey to the nomad tribes, who gradually spread over the country
and reduced it to a state of primitive barbarism. The Pisidian hilly
country remained permanently in Turkish possession from 1072
onwards (pp. 299 ff); and Apameia would share the fate of Pisidia.
In 1146 Manuel Comnenus, returning from an expedition against the
Turkish capital, Iconium, took the road by Bey-Sheher lake 2. When
he reached the open plain along the lake, probably about Selki-Serai, he
felt free from urgent danger ; but it was not until he reached the great
springs which feed the Maeander in the Siblian country that he con-
sidered himself safe from the enemy's attacks3. Yet, even here, when
he went out from the camp a little way to hunt, he came upon
a Turkish encampment. Siblia is here the frontier of Byzantine terri-
tory, and the country to the south of Siblia is reckoned as Turkish.
The modern name Geiklar i, ' the Gazelles,' is perhaps due to the fact
that the country round was depopulated, and became a resort for wild
animals.
The change of religion is entirely obscure. Probably the Christian
population dwindled or fled. The Christian village Lampe near the
head of Lake Anava, on the road between the fortresses Siblia and
Khonai, probably attracted many of them ; and the error of Nicetas,
who identifies Lampe with Kelainai, is more easily explicable, if the
bishop of Kelainai had migrated with his flock to Lampe.
§ 26. Teriiitoky of Apameia. (i) Limits. The valley of Apameia,
lying round the various branches which unite to form the river, is
a comparatively small oval valley 2,800 feet above sea-level in the
centre, about 8 miles long (N. to S.) by 3 broad. It is shut in on
S. by a mountain chain (with passes over 4,000 ft.), stretching across
from Ai-Doghmush to Yan-Dagh, and dividing the basin of Lake
Askania from the Phrygian country proper; and on E. by Djebel-
Sultan, stretching NW. from Ai-Doghmush to Ak-Dagh. On W. a low
1 See pp. 15, 16 note. tive. It is clear that Manuel marched
2 Called Skleros (the more ancient by the Duz-Bel route, and encamped
Karalis) and Pasgousa (or Poungousa) near Sungurlu below Duz-Bel.
Hist. Geogr. pp. 359, 389. l This name is used alongside of the
3 The passage of Cinnamus p. 59 name Dineir: the latter popular, the
(quoted in part p. 454) is very instruc- former official.
seems to have been situated between the Turkish Apameia and the
Byzantine Siblia1. When John Comnenus advanced to Sozopolis-
Apollonia, and recaptured it, Apameia perhaps reverted for the time
into the Emperor's hands ; but his lordship could have only been, at
the best, very uncertain. Sozopolis, a very strong fortress, could be
held better; but Apameia, open and defenceless, must have fallen an
easy prey to the nomad tribes, who gradually spread over the country
and reduced it to a state of primitive barbarism. The Pisidian hilly
country remained permanently in Turkish possession from 1072
onwards (pp. 299 ff); and Apameia would share the fate of Pisidia.
In 1146 Manuel Comnenus, returning from an expedition against the
Turkish capital, Iconium, took the road by Bey-Sheher lake 2. When
he reached the open plain along the lake, probably about Selki-Serai, he
felt free from urgent danger ; but it was not until he reached the great
springs which feed the Maeander in the Siblian country that he con-
sidered himself safe from the enemy's attacks3. Yet, even here, when
he went out from the camp a little way to hunt, he came upon
a Turkish encampment. Siblia is here the frontier of Byzantine terri-
tory, and the country to the south of Siblia is reckoned as Turkish.
The modern name Geiklar i, ' the Gazelles,' is perhaps due to the fact
that the country round was depopulated, and became a resort for wild
animals.
The change of religion is entirely obscure. Probably the Christian
population dwindled or fled. The Christian village Lampe near the
head of Lake Anava, on the road between the fortresses Siblia and
Khonai, probably attracted many of them ; and the error of Nicetas,
who identifies Lampe with Kelainai, is more easily explicable, if the
bishop of Kelainai had migrated with his flock to Lampe.
§ 26. Teriiitoky of Apameia. (i) Limits. The valley of Apameia,
lying round the various branches which unite to form the river, is
a comparatively small oval valley 2,800 feet above sea-level in the
centre, about 8 miles long (N. to S.) by 3 broad. It is shut in on
S. by a mountain chain (with passes over 4,000 ft.), stretching across
from Ai-Doghmush to Yan-Dagh, and dividing the basin of Lake
Askania from the Phrygian country proper; and on E. by Djebel-
Sultan, stretching NW. from Ai-Doghmush to Ak-Dagh. On W. a low
1 See pp. 15, 16 note. tive. It is clear that Manuel marched
2 Called Skleros (the more ancient by the Duz-Bel route, and encamped
Karalis) and Pasgousa (or Poungousa) near Sungurlu below Duz-Bel.
Hist. Geogr. pp. 359, 389. l This name is used alongside of the
3 The passage of Cinnamus p. 59 name Dineir: the latter popular, the
(quoted in part p. 454) is very instruc- former official.