Irenopolis | |
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 Landscape near Irenopolis | |
  Irenopolis | |
| Coordinates:37°14′35″N36°27′24″E / 37.24306°N 36.45667°E /37.24306; 36.45667 |
Irenopolis orEirenopolis orEirenoupolis (Greek:Εἰρηνούπολις) was an ancientRoman,Byzantine andmedieval city in northeasternCilicia, not far from theCalycadnus river, also known briefly asNeronias (Greek:Νερωνιάς) in honour of theRoman emperorNero. Irenopolis was also anepiscopal see that is now included in theCatholic Church's list oftitular sees.
It is located on the site of Düziçi (formerlyHaruniye) in theprovince of Osmaniye. Located at the mouth of theDarb al-‛Ain pass, which led from al-Hārūnīya to Germanikeia, 104 km SE ofAdana and 29.5 km NE ofOsmaniye.E. Honigmann’s identification of Irenopolis with Bagdacik, the ”little Irenopolis” (in contrast to the “great Irenopolis”), 25 km NE of Osmaniye on the way to Hasanbeyli, is wrong because the area is called Buğdaycik.[1][2]The site is a little higher than Hierapolis Kastabala and Anazarbus, on the mountain preventing access to the Cilician plain from the east.
It was probably founded byAntiochus IV of Commagene. The coins of the city show thatAsclepius andHygeia were worshiped in the city during pagan era. The cult of the two gods in the city may be connected with the natural spring of the area.
Theodoret of Cyrus confirms that the two names, Eirenopolis and Neronias, apparently refer to the same city.[3] The name Neronias refereeing to honors bestowed on the city byNero. The city is mentioned byHierocles[4] Nicephore andCalliste.[5][6] The city came under Muslim rule following theBattle of Manzikert in 1071.
Christianity first came to the area in the 1st century the strategic location through the mountain passes, and the work ofSt Paul made it an early candidate for missionaries. The city was the seat of abishopric inByzantine times.
The cityminted its owncoinage, from 92/93 AD, during Domitian's reign, were still minted until the reign of Gallienus (253–268 AD).
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Irenopolis".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.