COMANA (called also CHURSE or AUNEA, i.e. the golden, to distinguish it from Comana in Pontus), a city of Cappadocia, in a deep valley of the Anti-Taurus range, through which the river Sarus (Sihun) flows. This city was peculiarly celebrated in ancient times as the place where the rites of the goddess Artemis Tauropolos were celebrated with much solemnity. The worship of that deity is said to have been introduced by Orestes while on his way back from Tauric Scythia with the image of Minerva that had fallen from heaven. The service was carried on in a sumptuous temple and with great extravagance. To defray expenses, large estates had been set apart which yielded a more than royal revenue. The city of Comana, which was a mere appanage of the temple, was governed immediately by the chief priest, who was always a member of the reigning family, and took rank next to the king. The number of persons engaged in the service of the temple, even in Strabo's time, was upwards of 6000. Under Caracalla Comana became a Roman colony. Its site is now occupied by Al Bostan, a thriving town of about 10,000 inhabitants.