Arpasa | |
  Harpaşa Shown within Turkey | |
| Alternative name | Arpaz |
|---|---|
| Location | Aydın, Turkey |
| Region | Karya |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 6th century BC |
| Periods | Arkaik Roma Hellenistik |
| Cultures | Ancient Greek |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
Harpasa (Ancient Greek:Ἅρπασα) was a city and bishopric inancient Caria in Roman Asia Minor (Asian Turkey), which only remains a Latin Catholictitular see.
Little is known of the history of this town, situated on the east bank of the Harpasus, a tributary of theMæander. It is mentioned byPtolemy,[1] byStephanus Byzantius,[2] byHierocles,[3] and byPliny the Elder.[4] According to Pliny, there was in the neighbourhood arocking stone which could be set in motion by a finger-touch, whereas the force of the whole body could not move it.
The Ancient Armenian village that resided in present-day Turkey hosts the ruined castle ofArpaz, in the district ofNazilli, nearly preserves the old name as does the Turkish formHarpaskale.
It was important enough in the lateRoman province ofCaria (civilDiocese of Asia) to become a bishopric, asuffragan of thearchbishopric of Stauropolis, in the sway of thePatriarchate of Constantinople.Harpasa appears in the lists of theNotitiae Episcopatuum until the 12th or 13th century.
Lequien'sOriens Christianus I, 907 mentions only four historically documented bishops :
The diocese was nominally restored (twentieth century?) by theCatholic Church asTitular bishopric of Harpasa (Latin) / Arpassa (Curiate Italian) / Harpasen(us) (Latin).[5]
It is vacant since decades, having had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank,including anEastern Catholic :
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Harpasa".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913)."Harpasa".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company., vol. VII, New York 191037°48′21″N28°20′53″E / 37.8058°N 28.3481°E /37.8058; 28.3481
