Castabala (city)

Castabala (Greek: Καστάβαλα), also known as Hieropolis and Hierapolis [ad Pyramum] (Ίεράπολις) was a city in Cilicia (modern southern Turkey), near the Ceyhan River (ancient Pyramus).

The Turkish town of Kırmıtlı, in the Osmaniye district of Osmaniye Province, sits atop the ruins of the ancient city.

Castabala was one of the cities of the Late Hitite period. The name Castabala was probably of Luwian origin. The city was captured by Achaemenid Empire and than by Alexander the Great. During the Hellenistic age it was called Hieropolis. During the Roman Empire the city was a part of Capadocia Province. But after the Cilician pirates were defeated Tarkondimotos a pardoned pirate leader became the governor of the region.

The city was important enough in the Roman province of Cilicia Secunda to become a suffragan of its capital Anazarbus's Metropolitan Archbishopric, but would fade.

The Diocese of Castabala is a titular bishopric of the Catholic Church reflecting its active status in Late Antiquity.

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