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Ancient City of Korykos

摘要: Description  The ancient city of Korykos extends east-west alongside the highway at a distance of 65 km from Mersin and 25 km from Silifke. It sits on the slopes of the mountain where it reaches the c

Description

  The ancient city of Korykos extends east-west alongside the highway at a distance of 65 km from Mersin and 25 km from Silifke. It sits on the slopes of the mountain where it reaches the coast. As the mountain approaches the sea, two small bays are formed. The city lies alongside northeast and southwest axis reaching Elaiussa-Sebaste at the east and Hell-Heaven Caves at the west. It is surrounded by a natural harbor, where it has been always settled around in all periods. Remains of the ancient city are spread through 113.4 ha area reaching to the northeast of modern Kızkalesi settlement and including the fullest extent of the Necropolis valley at the west and lying 2 km alongside the coast to the east.

  According to Heredot, the city was founded by a Cyprian Prince namely Korykos. The name of the city was firstly recognized on the coins in the beginning of the 1st century BC when they proclaimed independency following the political unrest after the Seleuokus King Anthiokos IV death.

  The first records about the property are dated back to the Hittite period but the main finds are as early as the Hellenistic period. Polygonal braided stone places on rock formations and the first city walls are remains from this period. The city was enlarged to the east in Roman period and new walls were built in the 4th century AD, the time that the city reached the heyday. Another very important face of Korykos is its Christian period. Fourteen churches from the 4th – 7th centuries A.D. are preserved within this quite small area. These are located at north of the highway leading from Mersin to Silifke, just before entering the center of Kızkalesi, side by side with the Roman necropolis.

  Following the Roman and early Christian period, the Byzantine and Armenian periods have to be cited, as well. Its importance as a port city continued during Byzantine times. The city was surrounded by walls again to prevent the city from the Arab attacks. Pieces of Roman period structures were used as spolia in construction of this double row city walls. The water channels built in Roman Period on the line within the Latmos Valley was rebuilt and used in early Byzantium period.

  The city was then captured by the Seljuks and Cilician Armenian Kingdom. The fortress and castle of Korykos was built on previous fortifications by the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in the 12th century. The castle has taken its final form in the 13th century after various additions and arrangements. The city was then sold by Armenians to Cyprus Kingdom in the 14th century due to the attacks by Karaman Dynasty. In 1471, it was captured by the Ottomans and started to lose its importance.

  As a result of this construction program, it consisted of a castle on the land, together with a castle on the sea and they formed a single defensive system. The chain between the two was pulled up in case of a threat, thus preventing enemy ships from entering the port.

  The sea castle (Kızkalesi = Maiden Castle) on the small island was built on rocks at a distance of 200 meters from the shore. It was planned to prevent the bay standing in a strategic location from enemy attacks by building the sea castle as a first control point. Land castle was then constructed as a supportive defense structure. The length of the walls is 192 meters which are supported by eight towers. The entrance is provided by the north through a towered gate. There are differences in plan types of the towers which is related to the repairs held in different periods.

  The land castle was built on flat ground and it had a double circuit walls covering an area that is almost square. It is surrounded by a water-filled moat. Access to the castle was provided by a bridge which could be raised or lowered over the moat and this was also the entrance to the castle. There are several square towers within the circuit walls and three chapels within the castle, but only the southeastern one is Armenian in origin, the other two chapels are Byzantine. The apse, northern wall and a section of the western wall of the Armenian Chapel are preserved.

  10 km north of the sea castle, Adamkayalar (man rocks) are placed on the rocky slopes of the Şeytan Deresi (Devils’ Valley), which are the reliefs of 11 men, 4 women, 2 children and 1 goat carved out from the rocks. This very unique place is the monumental tombs of the rulers of Korykos. However, Adamkayalar is not the only tomb of Korykos. North of the highway leadingfrom Mersin to Silifke, just before entering the center of Korykos we can observe various types of graves and tombs belonging to the Roman period. Some have the form of temple tombs, reflecting the importance of the buried person, while others are simpler, such as undecorated sarcophagi. These tombs give us an idea of how big the settlement of Korykos once was.

  Villae Rusticaes (Roman Farmhouses) are other architectural components that can be seen on the site. The unique Roman type settlements, where land owner and the farm laborers live together, include crop processing and storage units, sacred places and necropolises in Korykos.


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