Castabala (Greek:Καστάβαλα), also known asHieropolis andHierapolis (Greek:Ίεράπολις) was a city inCilicia (modern southernTurkey), near theCeyhan River (ancient Pyramus).
TheTurkish town ofKırmıtlı, in theOsmaniye district ofOsmaniye Province, is about 3 miles wsw of the ancient city.
The ruins were first identified from inscriptions in March 1890 by the British explorerJ. Theodore Bent.[1]
Castabala was one of the cities of theLate Hitite period. The name Castabala was probably ofLuwian origin. The city was captured byAchaemenid Empire and became part of theCilician satrapy. Later it was taken byAlexander the Great. The city was first mentioned in literature when Alexander the Great made a stage before theBattle of Issos.[2]
During theHellenistic period andRoman period it was calledHieropolis, known as either Hieropolis on the Pyramos or as Hieropolis Castabala.[2] In the first century BC, after theCilician pirates were defeated, it became the capital ofTarcondimotus, a ruler of a small client kingdom.[3] Later, the city became a part ofCappadocia Province in theRoman Empire.
At the city there was the sanctuary ofArtemis Perasia (Περασίας Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερόν).[2][4] According toStrabo, the priestesses were walking with naked feet over hot embers without pain.[4] He also added that "some tell us over and over the same story ofOrestes and Tauropolus, asserting that she was called Perasian because she was brought from the other side."[4]
The city was important enough in theRoman province ofCilicia Secunda to become asuffragan of its capitalAnazarbus's Metropolitan Archbishopric, but would fade.[5]
TheDiocese of Castabala is atitular bishopric of theCatholic Church[6] reflecting its active status inLate Antiquity.
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37°10′39″N36°11′15″E / 37.17743°N 36.18744°E /37.17743; 36.18744
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