A Forgotten Settlement on the Byzantine Roads: Korniaspa

Abstract

The geographical location of Korniaspa, whose history dates to the Roman period, remains a mystery in terms of historical geography in Byzantine Anatolia. Previous attempts to locate Korniaspa have been limited by subjective assumptions and the need for more specific information, making it challenging to pinpoint its exact location. However, historical records indicate that Korniaspa was situated along the border of Cappadocia and Galatia and along the main road connecting Tavium to Sebasteia. Although Byzantine remains were found during the surveys in the neighbourhood, they are thought to have come from Tavium, where extensive excavations have not yet been conducted. Concerning Korniaspa, the available sources say that the birthplace of the Arian bishop Eunomios was in the Korniaspa region. At the same time, Korniaspa appears only once in inscriptional records, on the back of a votive stone in a second early 3rd-AD-dated graveyard in Phrygia, Dorylaion. Although the authenticity of this reference to Korniaspa is disputed, most researchers agree that it refers to Korniaspa. This article examines the possible Celtic origin of the name Korniaspa and its connection to the Celtic past of the region. It also explains whether Korniaspa was part of Galatia, as Basil claimed, and the European links to Korniaspa. This study highlights the need to consider all available evidence and eliminate subjective assumptions to arrive at the most accurate understanding of Korniaspa's location