AZA´NI
Eth.
AZA´NI (
Ἀζανοί: Eth.
Ἀζανίτης), as the name appears in Strabo (p. 576), and Stephanus (s. v.
Ἀζανοί) The name on coins and inscriptions is
Αἰζανοί, and also in Herodian, the grammarian, as quoted by Stephanus. Azani is a city of Phrygia Epictetus.
The district, which was called Azanitis, contained the sources of the river Rhyndacus.
This place, which is historically unknown, contains very extensive ruins, which were first visited in 1824 by the Earl of Ashburnham (Arundell‘s
Asia Minor, vol. ii. p. 347); it had been incorrectly stated (Cramer's
Asia Minor, vol. ii. p. 14) that the ruins were discovered by Dr. Hall. They have since been visited by several other travellers.
The remains are at a place called
Tchavdour-Hissar, on the left bank of the Rhyndacus.
There are two Roman bridges with elliptical arches over the Rhyndacus; or three according to Fellows. (
Plan, p. 141.) On the left bank of the Rhyndacus, on a slight eminence, is a beautiful Ionic temple, “one of the most perfect now existing in Asia Minor.” (Hamilton,
Researches, &c., vol. i. p. 101.) Eighteen columns and one side and end of the cella are standing.
There are also
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| RUINS AT AZANI. |
the colossal foundations of another temple; and some remains of a third.
The theatre is situated near half a mile from the temple; and there is a stadium which “extends north and south in a direct line of prolongation from the theatre, with which it is immediately connected, although at a lower level. Some of the marble seats, both in the stadium and in the theatre, are well preserved, and of highly finished workmanship.” (Hamilton.)
There is a view of the temple of Azani in Fellows' Asia Minor (pp. 137, 141). “There are many fronts of tombs sculptured as doors with panels and devices, having inscriptions.” (Fellows, who has given a drawing of one of these doors.) Among the coins which Hamilton procured at this place, and in the surrounding country, there were coins of Augustus, Claudius, Faustina, and other imperial personages. Some also were autonomous, the legends being
Δῆμος, Ἱερὰ Βουλή, or
Ἱερασυνκλητὸς Ἀιζανειτῶν, or
Αἰζανιτῶν. Several inscriptions from Azani have been copied by Fellows (p. 142, &c.), and by Hamilton (Appendix, 8--20). None of the inscriptions are of early date, and probably all of them belong to the Roman period. One of these records “the great, both benefactor and saviour and founder of the city, Cl. Stratonicus,” who is entitled consul (
ὕπατον); and the monnment was erected by his native city. This Stratonicus, we may infer from the name Claudius, was a native, who had obtained the Roman citizenship.
The memorial was erected in the second praetorship (
το Β στρατηγοῦντος) of Cl. Apollinarius. Another inscription contains the usual formula,
ἡ Βουλὴ καὶ ὁ Δῆμος. In the interior of the cella of, the temple there are four long inscriptions, one in well formed Greek characters, another in inferior Greek characters, and two in badly cut Roman characters.
There are also inscriptions on the outside of the cella.
It appears from one inscription that the temple, which is now standing, was dedicated to Zeus.
[p. 1.354]
The plan given by Fellows shows the positions of the several buildings, which altogether must have produced a very fine effect.
There are no traces of any city walls.
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| COIN OF AZANI. |
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