Honaz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Honaz (known in antiquity as Colossae) is a district of Denizli Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. Area 504 km2. Population (1990) 25,000.

Honaz is about 20km (12mi) east of the city of Denizli on the side of Mount Honaz, the highest peak in the Aegean region 92517m). Just north of Honaz is the River Lykos.

[edit] History

In 500BC Colossae was founded by the Phrygians, and then passed into the hands of the Ancient Greeks. Herodotus and Xenophon both record the passage of Greek and Persian armies though here during the Persian Wars, at that time it was a large Phrygian city. A few ruins of the ancient city remain. Like many other ancient cities of the region, Colossae was destroyed by earthquakes, with little surviving.

The city and a bishopric of Khonae was established at the location of the present Honaz township by the Byzantines during the Arab invasions of the 7th century AD. Being further up the mountain the location was easier to defend.

Following centuries of Byzantine rule the town was captured by the Seljuk Turks in 1070, but then changed hands back and forth a few more times during the Crusades. There is a Seljuk fortress in Honaz, and the Murat Mosque which dates back to the reign of Ottoman Sultan Murat II (imperabat 1404-1451).

[edit] Honax today

Today the economy of Honaz is centred on growing cherries, 80% of the crop being exported from Turkey, generating up to 35 million dollars of income per annum. There is an annual cherry festival in the town. Tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables are grown too including a local variety of oleaster.

Honaz is also the homeland of a number of well-known pehlivan (oil wrestlers) including 3-time national champion Hüseyin Çokal.

[edit] References

• Klaus Belke, Norbert Mersich: Phrygien und Pisidien, Tabula Imperii Byzantini, 7. Wien 1990. S. 309-311.
• information about Honaz on the Denizli Governor's Office website (Turkish)
• information about Honaz on the Denizli Council website (Turkish)
• information about Colossae on the Denizli Council website (English)
• places in the Bible - Colossae
• coinage of Colossae
• Holy Land photos Colossae

	Districts of Denizli Province
Denizli | Acıpayam | Akköy | Babadağ | Baklan | Bekilli | Beyağaç | Bozkurt, Denizli | Buldan | Çal | Çameli | Çardak | Çivril | Güney | Honaz | Kale, Denizli | Sarayköy | Serinhisar | Tavas