Research Article

Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities

Number: 28 December 26, 2025
EN

Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities

Abstract

Nakrason and Akrasos are two ancient settlements located close to each other in the Upper Kaikos (Bakırçay) basin and have similar names. Many scholars assume that these two settlements coexisted during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. However, the available evidence points to a chronological succession of Nakrason and Akrasos as urban settlements rather than their coexistence. It is evident that Nakrason was established as a Macedonian military colony during the Hellenistic period and continued its existence as a city until the Roman Imperial period. Nevertheless, it appears that Nakrason’s urban existence abruptly ended in the mid-160s AD. Approximately a decade later, a settlement named Akrasos was founded near Nakrason and gained civic status. This evidence eliminates the validity of the view that Akrasos was also established as a Macedonian military colony during the Hellenistic period. The aim of this paper is to examine the founding processes of Nakrason and Akrasos in light of historical and archaeological data, and to discuss the possible reasons for the chronological succession between them. Ultimately, the study also addresses the issue of the localization of these settlements in relation to this topic.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study is supported by Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Project Number: SHD-2021-22646.

References

  1. Allen, R.E. 1983. The Attalid Kingdom: A Constitutional History. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  2. Ambraseys, N. 2009. Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: A Multidisciplinary Study of Seismicity up to 1900. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. Babelon, E., ed. 1898. Inventaire sommaire de la collection Waddington: Acquise par l‘état en 1897. Paris: Rollin et Feuardenti.
  4. Behr, C.A. 1981. P. Aelius Aristides: The Complete Works. Vol. 2. Leiden: Brill.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Classical Greek and Roman History

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 26, 2025

Submission Date

March 3, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 8, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 28

APA
Tozan, M. (2025). Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities. Adalya, 28, 451-464. https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.1849544
AMA
1.Tozan M. Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities. Adalya. 2025;(28):451-464. doi:10.47589/adalya.1849544
Chicago
Tozan, Murat. 2025. “Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities”. Adalya, nos. 28: 451-64. https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.1849544.
EndNote
Tozan M (December 1, 2025) Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities. Adalya 28 451–464.
IEEE
[1]M. Tozan, “Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities”, Adalya, no. 28, pp. 451–464, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.47589/adalya.1849544.
ISNAD
Tozan, Murat. “Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities”. Adalya. 28 (December 1, 2025): 451-464. https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.1849544.
JAMA
1.Tozan M. Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities. Adalya. 2025;:451–464.
MLA
Tozan, Murat. “Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities”. Adalya, no. 28, Dec. 2025, pp. 451-64, doi:10.47589/adalya.1849544.
Vancouver
1.Murat Tozan. Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities. Adalya. 2025 Dec. 1;(28):451-64. doi:10.47589/adalya.1849544

Submission Date for ADALYA

Manuscript submissions for the 29th issue of Adalya (2026) will be accepted between Wednesday, 1 October 2025, and Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

Please submit your articles to the email address adalya@ku.edu.tr. Submissions via post or courier will not be accepted. All submissions must be received by the end of March.