Peltae (Peltæ) orPeltai (Ancient Greek:Πέλται) was a city and bishopric ofancient Phrygia inAsia Minor, which remains a Catholictitular see.
Peltae was a considerable town of Phrygia, was situated, according toXenophon, at a distance of 10parasangs fromCelaenae, at the head of the riverMaeander. Xenophon describes it as a populous city, and states that the army ofCyrus the Younger remained there three days, during which games and sacrifices were performed.[1] TheTabula Peutingeriana, where the name is erroneously writtenPella, places it, quite in accordance with Xenophon, 26 miles fromApamea Cibotus, to theconventus of which Peltae belonged.[2][3][4]Strabo mentions Peltae among the smaller towns of Phrygia,[5] and theNotitiae Episcopatuum name it among the episcopal cities of theRoman province ofPhrygia Pacatiana Prima to be asuffragan of its capitalLaodicea in Phrygia's metropolitan Archbishopric. The district in which the town was situated derived from it the name of the Peltaean plain (Πελτηνόν or Πελτινὸν πεδίον).[6]
Peltae's site is not known, and several scholars have offered opinions as to its location. It is probable that it is located southwest ofEumeneia.[7]
The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 asTitular bishopric under the names of Peltae (Latin), adjective Pelten(us) / Pelte (Curiate Italian).
It is vacant since decades, having only had the following incumbent(s), so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Peltae".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.