Philomelium

PHILOME´LIUM, PHILOME´LUM(Φιλομήλιον: Eth. Φιλομηλεύς, Philomeliensis), a town in the south-eastern part of Phrygia, which perhaps derived its name from the number of nightingales found in the district. It was situated in a plain not far from the borders of Lycaonia, on the great road from Synnada to Iconium. (Cic. ad Fam. 3.8, 15.4; Strab. 14. p. 663, comp. with 12. p. 577; Ptol. 5.2.25; Steph. B. s. v.) Philomelium belonged to the conventus of Synnada (Plin. Nat. 5.25), and is mentioned in later times as belonging to Pisidia (Hierocl. p. 672; Ptol. l. c.), the Pisidians in their pronunciation changing its name into Philomede or Philomene. (Procop. Hist. Arc. 18.) The town is often alluded to by the Byzantine historians in the wars of the Greek emperors with the sultans of Iconium. (Anna Comn. p. 473; Procop. l. c.;Nicet. Ann. p. 264.) Col. Leake (Asia Minor, p. 59) believes that the place was situated near the modern Ilgun;but it is more probable that we have to look for its site at Akshehr, where ruins and inscriptions attest the existence of an ancient town. (Hamilton, Researches, 1. p. 472, 2. p. 184; Arundell, Discoveies, 1. p. 282, foll.)
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