Sulusaray, Turkey

History

The date of foundation of this ancient city is still unknown, findings from the site indicate that Sebastopolis has been continuously inhabited from 3,000 BC to the present day. Some sources say that it was first established in the first century during the reign of Roman emperor Trajan, and that the city was separated from the districts of Pontus Galaticus/Polemoniacus and was included in the province of Cappadocia as recorded on an epitaph on a monument for Arrian, the Governor of the region of Cappadocia.

Sebastopolis was at the crossroads of east to west, and south/ central to north routes which made it a wealthy centre of trade during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

It was considered to be one of the five largest cities in the Black Sea region. It had the authority to mint its own coins but gradually lost its importance after wars and natural disasters. Trade routes were later diverted and further reduced its importance.

In Ptolemy's time, it was a town in Pontus Cappadocicus (Ptol. v. 6. § 7), which, according to the Antonine Itinerary (p. 205), was situated on a route leading from Tavium to Sebastia (modern Sivas), and was connected by a road with Caesarea (p. 214). Pliny (vi. 3) places it in the district of Colopene, and agrees with other authorities in describing it as a small town. (Hierocl. p. 703)

From the History section of Sulusaray on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.