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An overview of Byzantine Period settlements around Comana Pontica in north-central Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2016

Burcu Erciyas  and
Emine Sökmen
Burcu Erciyas
Affiliation:
Middle East Technical University, Turkey
Emine Sökmen
Affiliation:
Middle East Technical University, Turkey
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Abstract

The sanctuary of Comana Pontica in north-central Anatolia, dedicated to a local Anatolian deity, Ma, was a significant part of the Hellenistic kingdom of the Mithradatids which continued to be of some importance under the Roman emperors. During the Byzantine period, as a result of the introduction of, and adaptation to, Christianity in the region, significant changes in settlement pattern/organization at and in the vicinity of Comana took place. This article illustrates these changes through the architectural and archaeological material discovered during surveys and offers a preliminary interpretation of the settlement patterns around Comana in the Byzantine period.

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Articles
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Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , 2010 , pp. 119 - 141
Copyright
Copyright © The Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, University of Birmingham 2010

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References

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51 This phenomenon will be presented in the conclusion.

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62 The dates suggested for the ceramics in this article have derived from a preliminary study by Mr. Will Anderson during his very brief visit to the site in 2008. We would like to thank him for his contributions.

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65 We are thankful to the Tokat Museum director and staff who generously shared this information and provided photographs of the seal.

66 Such as Bryer, and Winfield, Byzantine Monuments; Foss, and Winfield, Byzantine Fortifications; Crow and Hill, ‘The Byzantine fortifications of Amastris’.