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Isaura Palaea ( grc, Ἴσαυρα Παλαιά, Isaura Palaia), in Latin Isaura Vetus, both meaning 'Old Isaura', and perhaps identical to Isauropolis, was a Roman and Byzantine era town in southern Turkey. The city has been identified with modern Zengibar Kalesi near Konya.
In antiquity the city was in
Before the Romans the town was a strongly fortified city of the Isaurians, located at the foot of Mt. Taurus. It was besieged by Perdiccas, the Macedonian regent after Alexander the Great's death, the Isaurians set the place alight and let it perish in flames rather than submit to capture. Large quantities of molten gold were found afterwards by the Macedonians among the ashes and ruins. The town was rebuilt, but was destroyed a second time by the Roman, Servilius Isauricus (), and thenceforth it remained a heap of ruins.
Isaura Palaea ( grc, Ἴσαυρα Παλαιά, Isaura Palaia), in Latin Isaura Vetus, both meaning 'Old Isaura', and perhaps identical to Isauropolis, was a Roman and Byzantine era town in southern Turkey. The city has been identified with modern Zengibar Kalesi near Konya.
In antiquity the city was in Isauria
Isauria ( or ; grc, Ἰσαυρία), in ancient geography, is a rugged, isolated, district in the interior of Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surrou ...
(Ἰσαυρία) district of Lycaonia in today's southern Turkey (modern Konya Province). Its site is identified as near Bozkır.
History
Before the Romans the town was a strongly fortified city of the Isaurians, located at the foot of Mt. Taurus. It was besieged by Perdiccas, the Macedonian regent after Alexander the Great's death, the Isaurians set the place alight and let it perish in flames rather than submit to capture. Large quantities of molten gold were found afterwards by the Macedonians among the ashes and ruins. The town was rebuilt, but was destroyed a second time by the Roman, Servilius Isauricus (), and thenceforth it remained a heap of ruins. Strabo
Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
states that the place was ceded by the Romans to Amyntas of Galatia. It was rebuilt by Amyntas at a new location and called Isaura Nea ('New Isaura').
From 492-496 the area was fought over between emperor Anastasius I and the local rebels, in what was to become known as the Isaurian War.
The Seljuq Turks managed to take control of the area in the late 11th century, after the Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert or Malazgirt was fought between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk Empire on 26 August 1071 near Manzikert, theme of Iberia (modern Malazgirt in Muş Province, Turkey). The decisive defeat of the Byzantine army and th ...
.
References
Populated places in ancient Isauria Populated places in ancient Lycaonia Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey Roman towns and cities in Turkey Former populated places in Turkey Populated places of the Byzantine Empire Defunct dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople {{Konya-geo-stub