1. Geography – Road Network

Synada was a Phrygian city. It is identified with the modern city of Şuhut, at the western end of a well-irrigated plain. The city is within 26 km to the south of Akroïnon (modern Afyonkarahisar) along a major route. Roads connected the city to the north with Prymnessos, Akroinon and, at least in the Roman period, Dokimion, while to the south and west roads led to Apamea Kibotus and Attaleia.

2. Foundation – Ancient History

Synada was known already from the late 4^th century. According to tradition, the city was founded by Akamas, who wandered in Phrygia on his way back from the Trojan War.¹ Possibly in the Hellenistic period Macedonian colonists settled in the area.² In the Roman years the conventus iuridicus of the province of Asia was based in the city, which minted its own coins,³ although it is described as a small town.⁴

3. Byzantine Synada

In the Byzantine period Synada was a key strategic position. Around the mid-4^th century the city was ecclesiastically and politically incorporated into the province of Phrygia II or Phrygia Salutaris. Synada is reported by Synekdemos of Hierocles as a city of Phrygia Salutaris.⁵ In the Middle Byzantine period the city was under the theme of Anatolikon. About 800 Arabs who escaped death and captivity after their heavy defeat by the Byzantines in Akroinon found shelter in Synada in 740.⁶ The city came permanently under the Seljuks when the Byzantines were shattered in the battle of Mantzikert in 1071.

4. Society

Synada had a remarkable Jewish community evidenced already from the mid-9^th century. The Jews of Synada maintained their own synagogue in the city. The most known member of the Synada Jewish community was Constantine the Jew (9^th century).⁷ Synada was the birthplace of the distinguished Byzantine families of Synadenos⁸ and Botaneiates.⁹

5. Economy

Between the 1^stand the 3^rd c. Synada had workshops extracting and processing marble at the imperial quarries of Dokimion (40 km N-NE of Synada). It seems that in the Early Byzantine period the management of the quarries of Dokimion was no longer based there.¹⁰ Marble processing in the wider area of Synada continued throughout the Byzantine years.¹¹ The product was promoted through the road system of the area, which connected Synada to the north with Prymnessos, Akroïnon and, at least in the Roman period, Dokimion, while to the south and west roads led to Apamea Kibotus and Attaleia.

Olive trees were cultivated in Synada already from the Roman years.¹² Significant evidence concerning the economy of the city in the Byzantine period, particularly in the 10^th century, is provided by the letters of the metropolitan of the city, Leo of Synada describing the infertile land of the area and barley production. According to the same source, because of the lack of basic products –the area did not produce any oil, wine or wheat– the citizens of Synada had to import goods from the theme of Thrakesion and Attaleia.¹³ But livestock farming thrived in the city.

6. Monuments

The hill with the acropolis and the settlement of Synada is situated to the west of the modern city and to the east of Kumalar Suyu. The Roman-Byzantine necropolis of the settlement is within 1.5 km to the south of Şuhut, at the foot of a rocky hill. A possibly medieval castle has also been traced, while in the city of Şuhut and the wider area a large number of Roman and early-middle Byzantine inscriptions as well as architectural remains have been found. Inscriptions and architectural remains have also been found in various positions near the city of Şuhut.