Isaura Nea (Ancient Greek:Ἴσαυρα Νέα), inLatinIsaura Nova, both meaning 'New Isaura', was a town of theRoman andByzantine era,[1] so called in juxtaposition with the settlement ofIsaura Palaea.[2] It also bore the nameLeontopolis,[3] and in later days was included in the province ofLycaonia.[4]
Along withIsaura Palaea (Old Isaura), the city was one of the two major settlements of theIsauria (Ἰσαυρία) region, located in what is now southern Turkey. Its site is identified with the ruins ofZengibar Castle, located approximately 19 km east ofBozkır district inKonya Province, near Hacılar village.[5]
Isaura Nea was the successor settlement toIsaura Palaea ('Old Isaura'), which had been destroyed by the RomanServilius Isauricus (c. 75 BCE), and ceded by Rome toAmyntas of Galatia,[6] who built out of the ruins of Isaura Palaea a new city in the neighbourhood, which he surrounded with a wall; but he did not live to complete the work. In the 3rd century, Isaura Nea was the residence of the rival emperorTrebellianus;[7] but in the time ofAmmianus Marcellinus nearly all traces of its former magnificence had vanished.[8]
The city was the seat of an ancientbishopric and is mentioned in all theNotitiae Episcopatuum of theByzantine era.[9] In the mid Byzantine period the city bishopric was merged with the older neighbouringbishopric ofIsauropolis.
The Isaurian church was originally under the authority of thePatriarch of Antioch, but was attached to thePatriarch of Constantinople in the late 7th or early 8th century.[10]
Epitaphs have been found of three bishops, Theophilus, Sisamoas, and Mamas, who lived between the years 250 and 400. Three other bishops are also known, Hilarius, 381; Callistratus, somewhat later; Aetius, 451.[11] The last named bishop also bears the title ofIsauropolis, the name of a city which also figures in theHierocles'sSynecdemus.[12] As noNotitiae Episcopatuum make mention of Isauropolis, Ramsay supposes that the Diocese of Isauropolis was early joined with that of Isaura Palaea which is mentioned in all theNotitiae.
The bishopric remains atitular see of theRoman Catholic church.[13]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Isaura".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
37°11′37″N32°20′33″E / 37.193604°N 32.342442°E /37.193604; 32.342442