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December 19, 2009

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Akdeniz

Mezitli

Toroslar

Yenişehir

Tarsus

Çamlıyayla

Erdemli

Silifke

Gülnar

Mut

Aydıncık

Bozyazı

Anamur

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Kanlıdivane (Kanytellis, Neapolis)

Kanlıdivane (Kanytellis, Neapolis) The reason why the local people call this antique city Kanlıdivane (Bloody Crazy) may stem from the fact that during the Antiquity condemned people were thrown into a hollow on the ground for wild animals to devour them. These are the ruins of the antique Kanytellis-Neapolis city situated on the 15 th Kilometer of the Silifke road (45 kilometers from Mersin city center) near Ayas. The ruins can be reached after driving for 3 kilometers, exiting from the main road. Under the asphalt covering this road now, is an old Roman road leading to the ruins. This archeological site spreading around a natural hollow on the ground was discovered by Westerners in the mid 19 th Century. This was the sacred site of a kingdom called Olba. Later in the history, in 408 A.D. Byzantine Emperor II. Theodosius resettled the city under the name Neapolis (New City). The city lived its most prosperous period in the 4 th Century A.D. Now there is a small gro

Uzuncaburç (Diocaesarea)

Uzuncaburç (Diocaesarea) One of the most outstanding monuments of Silifke’s rich archeological heritage is Uzuncaburç. This site is quite far from the town’s center and you have to take the road passing through the villages of Demircili, Imamli and Keşlitürkmenli to reach it. This was the sacred site of the Kingdom of Olba. Archeological excavations still continue here. The Kingdom of Olba was affiliated with the Seleukids. Under the Roman domination, the sacred site was separated from Olba and turned into an independent city. The city was given the name Diocaesarea (Emperor God City) and it began developing rapidly. The city was surrounded by walls 400 meters by 300 meters. It was embellished by columned streets, the Temple of Fortune, theaters, sports facilities and fountains. The city minted Roman coins in its name. Uzuncaburç stands at an altitude of 1,184 meters from the sea. The modern settlement has mingled with the ruins of the antique city. It seems that the

Soloi Pompeipolis

Driving 2 kilometers inland from Mezitli you come across the ruins of antique city Pompeipolis at Viranşehir. This is an impressive place among 20-story apartment blocks surrounding it. The columned road is enough to demonstrate the richness and architectural success of this antique city. Pompeipolis was an important Roman city before it was flattened by an earthquake in the 6 th Century. The main 10-meter wide thoroughfare of the city that runs for 450 meters down to the sea is thought to be built during the 2 nd or 3 rd Centuries. Once there were 200 columns that embellished this road. Only 40 of them have been found so far. There are human and animal figures on the columns. Excavation work is still continuing shedding more light on the history of this antique city. Before Pompeipolis, there was a city called Soloi in this location. Soloi got its name from the sun. It was a port enriched by trading with Egypt and Cyprus. It was quite developed in philosophy and science at

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