COMANA (frequently called Chryse, or Aurea, i.e., the golden, to distinguish it from Comana in Pontus), a city of Cappadocia, in a deep valley of the Anti-Taurus range, through which the River Sarus (Sihun) flows. This city was celebrated in ancient times as the place where the rites of the goddess Mã, the Greek Enyo, were celebrated with much solemnity. The service was carried on in a sumptuous temple and with great magnificence. To defray expenses, large estates had been set apart, which yielded a more than royal revenue. The city of Comana, which was a mere apanage of the temple, was governed immediately by the chief priest, who was always a member of the reigning family, and took rank next to the king. The number of persons engaged in the service of the temple, even in Strabo’s time, was upwards of 6000. Under Caracalla, Comana became a Roman colony. Its site has not been identified....
COMANA, an ancient city of Pontus in Asia Minor, said to have been colonized from Comana in Cappadocia. It stood on the River Iris (or Tocat-su), not far from its source, and from its central position was a favourite emporium of the Armenian and other merchants. The moon-goddess was worshipped in the city with a pomp and ceremony in all respects analogous to those employed iu the Cappadocian city. ∙ Large multitudes were attracted to the place by the great annual processions, and the permanent population was increased by the influx of devotees. The slaves attached to the temple alone numbered not less than. 6000. Remains of Comana are still to be seen near a village called Gumenek on the Tocat-su, seven miles from the city of Tocat. “They consist,” says Van Lennep, “of a low hill upon which are scattered fragments of brick and hewn-stone, with here and there the remains of a wall or a partly fallen vault.” The bridge that crosses the river at the spot is largely composed of fragments of ancient structures, and several sepulchral inscriptions can be deciphered on the blocks beneath the arches. Still nearer the modern village of Gumenek than these ruins lies a large boulder of marble iu which tombs or cells have been excavated. One of these is reputed to have been the abode of Chrysostom during his first exile from Constantinople.
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