Galatia et Cappadocia

Province Description

The regions of Galatia and Cappadocia were set within the high plateaus of central Anatolia, blocked from the Mediterranean to the south by the Taurus Mountains. The Iris, Lucus and Cappadox rivers linked the two areas that served as an important nexus between the Aegean and the east, particularly the Armenian territories of what is now eastern Turkey and northern Syria. Cappadocia was first incorporated into the Roman Empire as a dependent kingdom in 63 BCE, and then as a province in 17 CE. Galatia was initially constituted as a province in 25 BCE, and then combined with Cappadocia in the Flavian period, creating a territory that covered most of central and eastern Anatolia as far as the Euphrates, as well as prominent cities such as Ancyra. The area was known for its harsh climate and environments: Livy (38.18.4) describes the northern parts as ‘treeless country (Axylon),’ and the long and snowy winters became a literary topos (e.g. Strabo 12.6.1, Cicero Flac. 51). But in the spring and summer, the productive land was divided between farms and pastures. In these plateaus, rich grey loam soils existed on the slopes, allowing cultivation of cereals, vines, vegetables, and flowers. The regional economy centered on pastoralism in the arid steppes, but also on grain agriculture, which was exported to neighboring areas. In the eastern part of Cappadocia, orchards were common, and flowers were produced for perfumes and offerings. Strabo (12.2.1) notes the olives and excellent wine of Metilene in Cappadocia.

During the Roman period, the region consisted of areas densely populated with villages as well as large estates and imperial properties, with epigraphic evidence revealing that aristocratic families from Italy had come to Asia Minor as colonists. To date, however, no garden archaeology has been performed, although later literary sources testify to large villa gardens. In late antiquity there are references to the extravagant rural estates of local aristocrats in Cappadocia, some of which had ‘floors covered with flowers’ (Gregory of Nanzianus, Orat. 14.17). Some of these elites enjoyed gardening during visits to their country villas, including the early Christian father Gregory of Nanzianus, and his cousin Amphilochius, whose estate was known for its flowers (Ep. 5.5). A friend of Gregory of Nyssa owned a villa near the Halys River with orchards, a pond, and gardens; the estate was so beautifully designed that Gregory considered it artwork (Ep. 20). Beyond these literary references, however, more work is required to explore the ancient garden cultures of central Anatolia.

Bibliography

• S. Mitchell, Anatolia I. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993. (worldcat)
• S. Mitchell, “Olive cultivation in the economy of Roman Asia Minor,” in eds. S. Mitchell and C. Katsari, Patterns in the economy of Roman Asia Minor. London: Duckworth, 2005, pp. 83-114. (worldcat)
• R. Van Dam, Kingdom of Snow: Roman Rule and Greek Culture in Cappadocia. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002. (worldcat)

Places

• Galatia et Cappadocia (Pleiades:981523)