Ancyra

Ankyra (ancient Greek Ἄγκυρα; Latin Ancyra) was an ancient city in Galatia, the present-day Ankara.

History

Originally a Phrygian settlement on the Persian royal road, it became the capital of the Roman province of Galatia in Roman times. The Celtic Galatians had come to Anatolia as mercenaries in the 3rd century BC. After they had been settled in the interior of Asia Minor from 268 BC, Ancyra became the centre of the Galatian tribe of the Tectosages. In 189 BC Ancyra was occupied by Gnaeus Manlius Vulso, but remained under regional rule. The Galatians were not united under a single rule until 44 BC after Caesar’s assassination by King Deiotarus, but already in 25 BC Galatia became a Roman province and Ancyra its capital, seat of the Galatian koinon and of the imperial cult.

When the Roman Empire was divided after the death of Emperor Theodosius I in 395, the city became part of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire and remained so until 1073. In 622 advancing Sassanids captured the city, and in 654 the first Arab conquest took place. The Byzantines made the city from 717 to 775 the military headquarters of their administrative unit Bukellarion. Ankara was captured several times by Arab troops under the Abbasid caliphs Harun al‑Rashid (797) and al‑Mu'tasim bi‑llah (838) and was retaken by the Byzantines after a few years. The religious group of the Paulicians, whom the Byzantines called heretics, were able to occupy the city briefly (871); they were driven out again like the Abbasid troops (931).

In Late Antiquity Ancyra was a bishop’s seat, which is the origin of the Catholic titular archbishopric of Ancyra.

Archaeology

Temple of Roma and Augustus

In the district of Ulus, the historic core of the city, is the Temple of Roma and Augustus (dedicated 19/20 AD), on whose walls the bilingual Greek/Latin report of Emperor Augustus is attached.

In Byzantine times a church was incorporated into the temple, of which especially the apse and the crypt have survived.

Caracalla Baths

About 400 m west of the temple lie the so‑called Caracalla Baths, a Roman bathing complex from the 3rd/4th century. Of the bath buildings, the foundation walls and the bricks of the hypocaust heating system have survived. On the area for athletic exercises, the palaestra, numerous stelae, capitals and inscriptions have been placed that were found in the city area of Ankara.

Julian Column

Citadel

In the 7th century the still well‑preserved citadel was built, which was repeatedly expanded in Byzantine times, especially in 859 under Michael III.