Ancient City of Prusias ad Hypium

Prusias ad Hypium is an ancient Greek colony located in the eastern part of ancient Bithynia, within the boundaries of the modern Turkish district of Düzce’s Konuralp neighborhood. During the Roman Imperial period, it experienced sustained development as one of the leading cities of the region in political, economic and cultural terms. The site’s remains have been partially uncovered through archaeological excavations and present a historical panorama through its theater, aqueducts, agora, baths, bridge, walls and epigraphic records.

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Prusias ad Hypium is frequently mentioned in ancient sources as situated along the banks of the Hypios River (modern Melen River). The name “Prusias pros Hypio” or its Latin form “Prusias ad Hypium” means “Prusias opposite Hypios.” The city’s acropolis is located on a hilltop above the modern settlement of Konuralp. This topography provided natural defenses and conferred strategic importance due to its proximity to east-west trade routes.

The city was surrounded by Herakleia Pontika to the north, Claudiiopolis (Bolu) to the east, Nicomedia (Izmit) to the west and Nicaea (İznik) to the south. During the Roman period, Prusias ad Hypium’s western boundary extended along the Hypios River, while its eastern boundary passed through regions rich in mineral resources bordering Bithynion/Claudiopolis.

The city’s earliest name was Kieros, believed to have been given by colonists originating from Boeotia and Megara during the Greek colonization period. Established as a settlement within the hinterland of Herakleia Pontika, it initially developed as a dependency of that city. During the reign of Prusias I (228–182 BCE), the city came under the control of the Kingdom of Bithynia and was renamed Prusias pros Hypio in honor of the king. In the Roman period, its Latinized form Prusias ad Hypium became standard.

Prusias ad Hypium came under Roman rule in 74 BCE when Bithynia was bequeathed to Rome. Its status was formalized under the Lex Pompeia, making it one of the principal cities of a senatorial province. The city was divided into twelve phyles (tribes), whose names reflect both the legacy of Greek colonists and Roman emperors (e.g., Megaris, Thebais, Dionysias, Prusias; later Hadriane, Faustiniane, Antoniane).

Epigraphic sources list numerous public offices such as dekaprotos, agoranomos, prytanis, grammateus and sebastophantes, indicating that Prusias ad Hypium exhibited the typical characteristics of a Roman municipium.

The city possessed a rich network of public buildings. The main structures surviving to the present day include:

• Theater: One of the best-preserved examples of a Roman theater, with a capacity of 3,000 spectators.
• Agora and colonnaded street: A forum structure conforming to classical urban planning.
• Aqueducts: Monumental architectural elements that supplied the city’s water needs and still stand today.
• Domitius Baths, Gymnasium, Gerusia (council of elders), Bouleuterion (council house) and the Roman bridge are other significant public structures.

Epigraphic and archaeological evidence indicates the worship of a wide variety of deities. Cults of Zeus Soter, Demeter, Artemis, Dionysos, Asklepios-Hygeia, Aphrodite Epekoos, Serapis-Apis, Kybele and Helios were strongly represented. The imperial cult was also highly developed; emperors were deified and rituals were conducted through priestly classes such as sebastophantes and hierophantes. Christian influences are known to have emerged in the city during Late Antiquity.

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Especially during the Roman Imperial period, Prusias ad Hypium became a major trading hub between the Black Sea and the interior of Anatolia. Through its port emporia named Dia, Lilaion and Elaios, the city maintained commercial relations with Olbia (Ukraine), Tomis (Romania) and the Kingdom of the Bosporus. Agriculture, animal husbandry and especially cheese production were central to its economy. The city’s location at the intersection of land routes and its access to river transport via the Hypios River granted it significant logistical advantages.

Numerous inscriptions and coins have been recovered that illuminate the city’s history. Walter Ameling’s work Die Inschriften von Prusias ad Hypium compiles over 200 inscriptions. These texts mention both local officials and Prusians who held positions in the Roman bureaucracy, such as Flavius Domitianus Nestor, Domitius Paulianus Falco and Lucius Domitius Proclus. During the Roman period, the city enjoyed the right to mint its own coinage; coins feature both mythological figures and imperial portraits.

In the third century, Gothic raids prompted the construction of defensive walls and a shift toward militarized policies. This led to a decline in trade and economic stagnation. Although the city’s prosperity diminished after the Gothic incursions, its religious and administrative structures persisted for some time. During the reign of Theodosius, the city was included within the province of Honorias and became a bishopric center.

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Prusias ad Hypium was a politically and economically significant center in northwestern Anatolia during the Roman Imperial period. Notable for its public architecture, rich epigraphic corpus and long history of continuous settlement, it is a city of considerable historical value to the region. The structures and inscriptions uncovered through excavations today provide an important example for understanding urban life in Roman Anatolia.