the service of the temple, even in Strabo's time,
was upwards of 6000, and among these, to judge by the names common on
local tombstones, were many of Persian race. Under Caracalla, Comana
became a Roman colony, and it received honours from later emperors down
to the official recognition of Christianity. The site lies at Shahr, a
village in the Anti-Taurus on the upper course of the Sarus (Sihun),
mainly Armenian, but surrounded by new settlements of Avshar Turkomans
and Circassians. The place has derived importance both in antiquity and
now from its position at the eastern end of the main pass of the western
Anti-Taurus range, the Kuru Chai, through which passed the road from
Caesarea-Mazaca (mod. _Kaisarieh_) to Melitene (Malatia), converted by
Septimius Severus into the chief military road to the eastern frontier
of the empire. The extant remains at Shahr include a theatre on the left
bank of the river, a fine Roman doorway and many inscriptions; but the
exact site of the great temple has not been satisfactorily identified.
There are many traces of Severus' road, including a bridge at Kemer, and
an immense number of milestones, some in their original positions,
others in cemeteries.

See P. H. H. Massy in _Geog. Journ._ (Sept. 1905); E. Chantre,
_Mission en Cappadocie_ (1898). (D. G. H.)

COMANA (mod. _Gumenek_), an ancient city of Pontus, said to have been
colonized from Comana in Cappadocia. It stood on the river Iris (Tozanli
Su or Yeshil Irmak), and from its central position was a favourite
emporium of Armenian and other merchants. The moon-goddess was
worshipped in the city with a pomp and ceremony in all respects
analogous to those employed in the Cappadocian city. The slaves attached
to the temple alone numbered not less than 6000. St John Chrysostom died
there on the way to Constantinople from his exile at Cocysus in the
Anti-Taurus. Remains of Comana are still to be seen near a village
called Gumenek on the Tozanli Su, 7 m. from Tokat, but they are of the
slightest description. There is a mound; and a few inscriptions are
built into a bridge, which here spans the river, carrying the road from
Niksar to Tokat. (D. G. H.)

COMANCHES, a tribe of North American Indians of Shoshonean stock, so
called by the Spaniards, but known to the French as Padoucas, an
adaptation of their Sioux name, and among themselves _nimenim_ (people).
They number some 1400, attached to the Kiowa agency, Oklah