Ancyra was a major settlement in Anatolia, which was founded already in the bronze age, and grew significantly in size and importance under the Phrygians starting around 1000 BC.
Phrygian rule was succeeded first by Lydian and later by Persian rule, though the strongly Phrygian character of the peasantry remained, as evidenced by the gravestones of the much later Roman period. Persian sovereignty lasted until the Persians' defeat at the hands of Alexander the Great who conquered the city in 333 BC. Alexander came from Gordion to Ankara and stayed in the city for a short period. After his death at Babylon in 323 BC and the subsequent division of his empire among his generals, Ankara and its environs fell into the share of Antigonus.
In 278 BC, the city, along with the rest of central Anatolia, was occupied by a Celtic group, the Galatians, who were the first to make Ankara one of their main tribal centers, the headquarters of the Tectosages tribe. It later fell under Roman rule, where it was made capital of the province of Galatia.
Phrygian rule was succeeded first by Lydian and later by Persian rule, though the strongly Phrygian character of the peasantry remained, as evidenced by the gravestones of the much later Roman period. Persian sovereignty lasted until the Persians' defeat at the hands of Alexander the Great who conquered the city in 333 BC. Alexander came from Gordion to Ankara and stayed in the city for a short period. After his death at Babylon in 323 BC and the subsequent division of his empire among his generals, Ankara and its environs fell into the share of Antigonus.
In 278 BC, the city, along with the rest of central Anatolia, was occupied by a Celtic group, the Galatians, who were the first to make Ankara one of their main tribal centers, the headquarters of the Tectosages tribe. It later fell under Roman rule, where it was made capital of the province of Galatia.
Modern location: Ankara, Turkey
(1)
Claudius
|
Annius Afrinus
Obverse: laureate head right; KAICAP
Reverse: legend within wreath; EΠΙ / ΑΦΡΙΝ / ΟΥ
Diameter:
19.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.4 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.4 g
https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/3559
RPC I, 3559; Devreker 191, no. 10
(2)
Lucius Verus
Obverse: laureate head right; AVTO__Λ OVHPOC
Reverse: star in crescent; ANKVΡANΩN
Diameter:
17.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.1 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.1 g
No notes for this coin
Arslan "Galatya.." B33 corr. (obv legend) = Berlin 1883-422. http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/2242/