Anaea (Asia)


Anaea ''' is an ancient city, former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see in Asia Minor.
It gave its name to its modern location, Anya in the coastal village of Soğucak situated to the south of Kuşadası in Aydın Province, Turkey.

History

After the defeat of the Revolt of Mytilene, when Alcidas was anchored at Ephesus, a deputation of Samians from Anaia came to him.
Anæa was important enough in the Roman province of Asia Prima to become a suffragan bishopric of its capital Ephesus's Metropolitan Archbishopric. Yet it would fade.
In 1413 it was conquered by the Ottomans.

Archeology

Archaeologists discovered many ceramics. The presence of so many ceramics in different colors, shapes and designs confirms that there was a rich production capacity in Anaea.
They also revealed paw prints of cats and dogs on bricks and tiles dating back to the 8th century. These traces belong to animals which walked on these potteries when they were left to dry by producers. There is also a castle which served as an acropolis for many years and was home to a church built in the 5th century. After the Ottomans conquered the city they build a mosque next to the church. The Ottomans used the castle as a shield during WWI.

Titular see

The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as Anæa.
It is vacant for decades, having had the following incumbents, all of the lowest rank :