Sebastopolis (Pontus)
| Sulusaray | |
|---|---|
 Sulusaray
|
|
| Coordinates: 40°00′N 36°06′E / 40.000°N 36.100°E | |
| Country |
 Turkey
|
| Region | Black Sea |
| Province | Tokat |
| Area | |
| • District | 276.72 km2 (106.84 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Urban | 3,374 |
| • District | 8,838 |
| • District density | 32/km2 (83/sq mi) |
| Area code(s) | 0356 |
Sulusaray or Çiftlik, in Antiquity and the early Middle Ages known as Sebastopolis (Greek: Σεβαστούπολις) or Heracleopolis (Ἡρακλειούπολις), is a town and a district of Tokat Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Sulusaray is about 68 km from the center of Tokat, and about 30 km from Artova town. The site is situated on a plain surrounded by mountains and the Çekerek river runs near it. The mayor is Şahin Hasgül (MHP).
The word comes from Greek Sebastos, the Greek equivalent of the Latin Augustus, while polis means "city". In some sources the city was named as Heracleopolis (meaning "the city of Heracles", a Greek deity symbolizing power and strength).
The date of foundation of this ancient city is still unknown. Some sources say that it was first established in the first century during the reign of Roman emperor Trajan, and that the city was separated from the districts of Pontus Galaticus/Polemoniacus and was included in the province of Cappadocia. An epitaph inscription about this survives. The epitaph was written as a monument for Arrian, the Governor of the region of Cappadocia. In Ptolemy's time, it was a town in Pontus Cappadocicus (Ptol. v. 6. § 7), which, according to the Antonine Itinerary (p. 205), was situated on a route leading from Tavium to Sebastia (modern Sivas), and was connected by a road with Caesarea (p. 214). Pliny (vi. 3) places it in the district of Colopene, and agrees with other authorities in describing it as a small town. (Hierocl. p. 703)
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