Comana
Comana, an ancient city located in the valley of the Sarus River (modern Seyhan), was a significant religious and cultural center in the regions of Cappadocia and Pontus during Hellenistic times. Renowned for its dedicated worship of the earth and mother goddess Ma, it served as a principal cult site where the goddess was associated with various deities across cultures, such as Enyo by the Greeks and Bellona by the Romans. The sanctuaries in Comana were notable for their autonomous status, primarily governed by chief priests often linked to royal families. It is recorded that the Cappadocian Comana housed a large workforce, including thousands of temple servants, contributing to its bustling community. Following its elevation to city status, likely under King Archelaus of Cappadocia or later Roman influence, Comana became a Roman colony, highlighting its strategic importance on military routes. The city, sometimes referred to as Chryse (the Golden), continued to thrive until the rise of Christianity. Today, archaeological remains, including a theater and numerous inscriptions, provide insight into the city’s historical significance.
Comana
later Hierapolis (now Şar), in Cataonia (Cappadocia, eastern Asia Minor)
The place was situated in the valley of the river Sarus (Seyhan), at the eastern end of the main pass through the western Anti-Taurus ranges. In Hellenistic times the two Comanas, in Cappadocia and Pontus, were the principal cult centers of the great earth- and mother-goddess Ma (identified with the warrior-deity Enyo by the Greeks, and with Bellona by the Romans). These sanctuaries possessed autonomous status under their own chief priests, who were generally related to the royal houses of their countries, and ranked second to the king; there were also numerous temple serfs and prostitutes.
Strabo reports that as many as 6,000 servants (including numerous Persians) worked for the shrine at Cappadocian Comana, in addition to a considerable lay population around the sanctuary and in the adjacent fertile valleys, which contained the priestly estates. After receiving city status from King Archelaus of Cappadocia (or perhaps from the Romans, after cAD 80) Comana became a Roman colony under Caracalla (211–17)—because of its location on the chief military road to the eastern frontier—and continued to receive further honors until the empire became Christian. The city was known as Chryse (the Golden), to distinguish it from Comana Pontica. Surviving remains include a theater and numerous inscriptions.