Honaz

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = Town
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of Honaz within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

official_name = Honaz

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image_caption = Saklıgöl ("literally "the hidden lake") near Honaz
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =

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subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Aegean
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Denizli| population_total =
population_urban =
population_as_of =
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 =
elevation_m =
latd = 37
latm = 45
latNS = N
longd = 29
longm = 16
longEW = E
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 20x xx
blank_info = 20|blank_name=Licence plate
area_code =
leader_name =
website = [http://www.honaz.bel.tr www.honaz.bel.tr]
leader_name1 =
gwebsite = [http://www.honaz.gov.tr www.honaz.gov.tr]

Honaz (known in antiquity as "Colossae") is a town and a district of Denizli Province in the Aegean Region. It covers an area of convert|504|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on, and the population is about 25,000 (1990 census).

Honaz is about 20 km (12 mi) east of the city of Denizli on the slopes of the mountain of the same name - Mount Honaz ("Honaz Dağı"). The mountain is the highest peak in Turkey's Aegean Region (2517 m). Just north of Honaz is Honaz Stream ("Honaz Çayı"), known in ancient times as the River Lykos.

History

In 500 BC 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).

Honaz 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 pehlivans (oil wrestlers) including the 3-time national champion Hüseyin Çokal.

In the nearby depending township of Kaklık, there is a large cave called " Kaklık Cave" or "Kaklık Mağarası" which attracts visitors from all over the country. A spring that spurts out on the surface only to flow back underground shortly afterwards through the cave in cascading layers of limestone and travertine caused Kaklık to appear very much like a subterranean Pamukkale.

References

* Klaus Belke, Norbert Mersich: Phrygien und Pisidien, Tabula Imperii Byzantini, 7. Wien 1990. S. 309-311.
* [http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137A2395174CFB32E1B361049FDD41AE45 Information about Colossae on the Denizli Council website (English)]
* [http://www.bibleplaces.com/colossae.htm Places in the Bible - Colossae]
* [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/phrygia/colossae/t.html Coinage of Colossae]
* [http://holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,3,7,23,62 Holy Land photos Colossae]