Aboniteichos (Gr. Ἀβώνου τεῖχος, demonym: Ἀβωνοτειχίτης; Turkish: İnebolu) was a town on the coast of Paphlagonia, memorable as the birthplace of the impostor Alexander, of whom Lucian has left us an amusing account in the treatise bearing his name.[1] According to Lucian, Alexander petitioned the emperor (probably Antoninus Pius) that the name of his native place should be changed from Aboniteichos to Ionopolis; and whether the emperor granted the request or not, we know that the town was called Ionopolis in later times.[2] Not only does this name occur in Marcian of Heraclea[3] and Hierocles,[4] but on coins of the time of Antoninus and Lucius Verus we find the legend Ionopoliton (Ἰωνοπολιτῶν), as well as Abonoteichiton (Ἀβωνοτειχιτῶν). The modern İnebolu is evidently only a corruption of Ionopolis.[5][6][7][8]
It was the site of a 2nd century AD temple of Apollo.[9]
References
^ Smith, William (1857), "Aboniteichos", in Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, 1, London: Walton & Maberly, pp. 5
^ Lucian, Alex § 58
^ Marcian of Heraclea, Peripl. p. 72
^ Synecdemus, p. 696
^ Strabo, p. 545
^ Arrian, Periplus Ponti Euxini p. 15
^ Ptol. v. 4 § 2
^ Stephanus of Byzantium, s. v. Ἀβώνου τεῖχος
^ "Ionopolis". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854– . Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
