Archaeological evidence at the site points to settlement since prehistoric times. The town was originally known as
Gordiou Kome (Γορδίου Κώμη, "village of
Gordion").
Cleon of Gordiucome, a native of the town, raised its status to a city and renamed it as Juliopolis in honour of the
Emperor Augustus. Augustus had rewarded him with the sovereignty over
Comana (Cappadocia) for his services in war against
Mark Antony, whom Cleon had earlier served and from whom he had received other lands. In
late antiquity, the town gained in prominence due to its location on the so-called "Pilgrim Road" that connected
Constantinople with
Ancyra. It is attested as a bishopric since the
Council of Ancyra in 314. Emperor
Justinian I () undertook repairs to strengthen the city walls, that were being undermined by the nearby Skopas river (modern Aladağ Cayı). In late antiquity, the city belonged to the province of
Galatia Prima, and later to the
Bucellarian Theme. In ca. 880 the city changed its name again to Basilaion (Βασιλαίον), Basileon (Βασιλέον) or Basileion (Βασίλειον) in honour of the Emperor
Basil I (), and a late document of the Byzantine Church refers to it by its original name of Γορδίου Κώμη.
Symeon the New Theologian was born in Basileion in 949 AD. Also, numerous belongings being Jewelry, metal and ceramic pots, mirrors, smell bottles and coins were found during the excavations.
Bishops A few of the bishops of Juliopolis/Basilaion are known: • Philadelphus, attended the Council of Ancyra (314) and the
First Council of Nicaea (325) • Philetus, who signed the acts of the Eastern bishops at the
Council of Serdica (343) • Meliphthongus, attended the
Council of Chalcedon (451) • Proclianus, signed in 458 the letter of the bishops of Galatia Prima to Emperor
Leo I the Thracian • Pantoleon, attended a
council at Constantinople (536) • Martyrius, attended the
Third Council of Constantinople (680) • John, attended the
Quinisext Council (692) • Constantine, attended the
Second Council of Nicaea (787) • Ignatius, attended the
Council of Constantinople in 869/870 • Synetus, Metropolitan (possibly the first), addressee of
Michael Psellos (mid-11th century) ==Catholic titular see==