Nakrason and Akrasos: A Tale of Two Cities

Year 2025, Issue: 28, 451 - 464, 26.12.2025

Murat Tozan

https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.1849544

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

Nakrason , Akrasos , Macedonian military colonies , Upper Bakırçay basin , earthquakes in antiquity , Antonine plague

Supporting Institution

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

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