HAMAXIA
(Sinekkalesi) Turkey.
Town in
Pamphylia, 6 km W-NW of Alânya. Hamaxia is mentioned only by Strabo (
668) and in the
Stadiasmus (208:
Anaxion); Strabo calls it a katoikia and the
Stadiasmus
a chorion, and it appears from the inscriptions that the
place did not attain city status before the early 3d c. B.C.
Strabo places it E of Korakesion (Alânya), the
Stadiasmus to the W; it is generally agreed that the latter is in
this case the better authority.
The site is on a high hill above the village of Elikesik
and is heavily overgrown. The circuit wall, of respectable
ashlar masonry but not of early date, is preserved in large
part. In the interior some remains of two temples, one
of Hermes, have been identified, also two exedras facing
one another, presumably across a street. A church has
also been noted. Inscriptions are numerous, almost without exception of the 1st-2d c. A.D. The personal names are
mostly epichoric, and Roman names are rare. The principal necropolis was on the N slope outside the wall, and
contained many built tombs.
According to Strabo Hamaxia had an anchorage on
the coast, “where the shipbuilding timber is brought
down.” This is perhaps to be identified with the Aunesis
recorded in the Stadiasmus, but it has not been located
with certainty.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
R. Heberdey & A. Wilhelm,
Reisen in
Kilikien (1896) 137-40; Wilhelm & J. Keil,
ÖJh 18
(1915) 9; H. Rott,
Kleinasiatische Denkmäler (1908)
71; G. E. Bean & T. B. Mitford,
AnatSt 12 (1962) 185-91; id.,
Journeys in Rough Cilicia 1964-1968 (1970) 78-94.
G. E. BEAN