Myrica or Myrika, also called Myrikion (Ancient Greek: Μυρικιών)[1] and Therma,[2][3] was a city and bishopric in Galatia Salutaris (in Asia Minor), known for its hot springs.

Description

Because of the mention of the hot springs in the signature of the bishop at the Council of Chalcedon, William Mitchell Ramsay identified this city with the town known in his time (19th century) as Saint Agapetos (in Greek Ἅγιος Ἀγαπητός). He interpreted as a change of name, not of location, the contrast between earlier sources such as this, which speak of a bishopric of Myrika (Myrica), and the references to a see of Saint Agapetos in later Notitiae Episcopatuum and in the signature of a bishop at the Quinisext Council of 692.[4]

However, Ramsay also mentioned the existence within Galatia Salutaris of other hot springs at "the Merkez of the Haimane", and some identify with "the ancient Myrica Therma" the volcanically heated baths of Haymana, Ankara, which are reputed to have healing properties, especially for arthritis, rheumatism and gynaecological disorders.[5]

The identification of the episcopal see of Myrica given in the Annuario Pontificio is "Merkez".[6]

Modern scholars place its site near Yeşilyurt, Asiatic Turkey.[3][2]

References

  1. ^ Hierocles. Synecdemus. Vol. p. 698.
  2. ^ a b Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  3. ^ a b Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 63, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  4. ^ William Mitchell Ramsay, The Historical Geography of Asia Minor, p. 217
  5. ^ PlanetWare, "Ankara Tourist Attractions" Archived 2013-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 931

39°28′31″N 32°30′30″E / 39.475327°N 32.5083145°E / 39.475327; 32.5083145

Categories