SEBASTOPOLIS HERAKLEOPOLIS
(Sulusaray) Pontus, Turkey.
In the upper valley of the Çekerek Irmaği (Skylax fl.) 68 km SW of Tokat, where the road from Amaseia to Sebasteia was crossed by one of
the routes from Tavion to Neocaesarea. The district of
Kouloupene, in which Sebastopolis lay, belonged formerly
to Megalopolis. All or part of Kouloupene was probably
transferred by Antony to the Galatian chieftain Ateporix,
on whose death it was annexed by Rome and, according
to Strabo (
12.560), formed “an organization on its own
the little city of those who synoecized Karana.” The
era of Sebastopolis (3-2 B.C.) should thus be the date at
which Karanitis was annexed, while the name itself is
likely to mark a refoundation by Augustus later in his
reign. The additional name Herakleopolis was commonly
used at least from the time of Trajan. Sulusaray contains abundant ancient stones, both inscribed and uninscribed, but the only structure visible in situ is a single arch of the Roman bridge over the Çekerek Irmaği,
NW of the village.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
J.G.C. Anderson,
Studia Pontica I
(1903) 34-36; F. & E. Cumont,
Studia Pontica II (1906)
201-8.
D. R. WILSON
