★ KOMANΩN ★

PONTOS. Komana. Struck under Mithradates VI Eupator.(Circa 111-105 or 95-90 BC).Ae.

Obv : Helmeted head of Athena right.

Rev : KOMA - NΩN.
Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and severed head of Medusa; headless body at feet, monogram to left and right.
SNG BM Black Sea 1260-1261; HGC 7, 279.

Condition : Good very fine.

Weight : 18.70 gr
Diameter : 29 mm

There were two temple states active in the Hellenistic Period within the borders of today's Tokat/Turkey in the inner parts of the Black Sea Region. The larger of these, Komana, was a Cappadocian type temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess Ma. (Wilson 1960, 228) (Strabo 12.3.34) Komana Temple State also had the status of a polis and was used as a trade center by visitors from the region throughout the year. After the collapse of the Pontus Kingdom and the flight of Mithradates VI, Komana Temple State became a principality and was transferred to Archelaus by Pompey in the mid-1st century BC. (App.Mithr. 115; Wilson 1960, 228) Archelaus was followed by his son after he was deposed by Caesar in 47 BC. Lykomedes, a Bithynian of Cappadocian origin, took over the principality from Archelaus' son (Bell.Alex. 66.3), and Medeius, Cleon, and Dyteutus, who were appointed by Augustus, served in Comana in that order. (Cass.Dio 51.2.3; Strabo 12.558; 12.574) With the death of Dyteutus, Comana was included in the Pontus Galaticus Region. By this time, the priests had lost a significant amount of their power, but the temple function continued. During the reign of Maurice Tiberius (582-602 AD), the city was incorporated into the imperial domain. The region had the status of ager publicus for a while between the Pontus Kings Period and the period encompassing the rule of Emperor Maurice. (RGS Supp.Pap. 1893, 736)

Comana's territory expanded during the Pontus Kings and the Roman Imperial Periods. When the Roman Pompey became a prince, he added 2 schoeni or 60 stades to the city. Thus, the diameter of the city area reached approximately 4 kilometers. (Magie 1950, 371; Wilson 1960, 229) The Roman Emperors Caesar or Antony gave 4 schoeni worth of land to the priests of Comana. (Wilson 1960, 229) These new lands were most probably added to the east, south and west sides of the city. These areas are known as Zelitis and Megalopolitis. It can be assumed that the north side was limited because the cities of Magnopolis and Neocaesareia were very close. It is known that the area of ​​the city expanded even more during the Augustan period and reached the size of the civitates in the region. When Comana was added to the Pontus Galaticus Region in 34-35 AD, the city of Magnopolitis was most probably included in Comana Pontica. (IGR III,105;Waddingtonv.d.1904,109) The city was called both Hierocaesareia and Komana until the Titus period. (IGR III, 105,106) The spread of Christianity accelerated the collapse of the temple. The surrounding lands were included in Daximon, a much smaller but central settlement. The image of Ma, the mother goddess of the temple state, appeared on coins from the reign of Emperor Caligula. The only available data regarding the architectural appearance of the temple are the coins of Caracalla, Septimius Severus and later Trajan. A tetrastyle temple is depicted on these coins.