KIR-SHEHER

kir-sheher, the chief town of a sanjak of the same name in the angora vilayet of asia minor, situated on a tributary of the kizil irmak (_halys_), on the angora-kaisarieh road. it is on the line of the projected railway from angora to kaisarieh. the town gives its name to the excellent carpets made in the vicinity. on the outskirts there is a hot chalybeate spring. population about 9000 (700 christians, mostly armenians). kir-sheher represents the ancient _mocissus_, a small town which became important in the byzantine period: it was enlarged by the emperor justinian, who re-named it _justinianopolis_, and made it the capital of a large division of cappadocia, a position it still retains.