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Acmonia orAkmonia (Ancient Greek:Ἀκμονία) is an ancient city ofPhrygia Pacatiana, inAsia Minor, now known as Ahat Köyü in the district ofBanaz,Uşak Province. It is mentioned byCicero[1] and was a point on the road betweenDorylaeum andPhiladelphia. Under theRomans, it was within theconventus iuridicus ofApamea.[2]
Acmonia was the seat of a bishop in antiquity. It appears in theNotitiae Episcopatuum from the 10th to the 12th or 13th century. The first bishop whose name is known is Optimus, who was transferred to themetropolitan see ofAntiochia in Pisidia before 381. Gennadius took part in theCouncil of Chalcedon in 451. Theotimus signed in 459 the decree ofPatriarch Gennadius I of Constantinople against thesimoniacs. Paulus was at theSecond Council of Nicaea in 787. Eustathius was a both theCouncil of Constantinople (869) and theCouncil of Constantinople (879). Somewhat less certain is the attribution to this diocese of Basilius, who participated in theThird Council of Constantinople in 680. He is recorded as bishop of Κολωνία Πακατιανή (Colonia of the province of Pacatiana) but, as there is no record of such a diocese, it is thought that Κολωνία is a mistake for Ἀκμωνία (Acmonia).[3][4] No longer a residential bishopric, Acmonia is today listed by theCatholic Church as atitular see.[5]
In 2000, a large mosaic floor depicting a gymnasium was discovered in Acmonia. Despite the emergency excavations, which started on 26 June 2000, one part of the mosaic was stolen from the excavation site. The stolen parts were later recovered in Istanbul after a police raid in 2002.
The Jewish synagogue in Acmonia, funded by Ioulia Severa during Nero's reign, stands as the most documented synagogue in Phrygia. where inNero's reign, Ioulia Severa, a descendant ofGalatian royalty, funded its construction. This patronage, however, does not necessarily imply personal sympathy towardJudaism, as it may have been influenced by complex family and official connections. The synagogue leadership was closely aligned with the city's leadership, indicating significant support from influential figures.[6]
While the conditions for Jews in Acmonia seemed favorable during Ioulia Severa's time, it's uncertain if these conditions persisted over subsequent decades. In the third century, there's a notable increase in evidence related to Jews in Acmonia, including gravestones invoking biblical curses against violators of graves. These inscriptions demonstrate the integration of Jewish liturgical practices into the community and suggest that Jewish members held influential positions within the city.[6]
Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Acmonia".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.38°39′32″N29°46′17″E / 38.658994°N 29.7714539°E /38.658994; 29.7714539
