Anchiale

Anchiale (Ancient Greek: Ἀγχιάλη) or Anchialeia was a historic city of ancient Cilicia now a part of modern Mersin, Turkey. It was inhabited during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras.

For Anchiale, daughter of Iapetus, see Anchiale (mythology). For the town of ancient Thrace, see Anchiale (Thrace).
Karaduvar aqueduct in Mersin, Turkey

History

The main informant about Anchiale was Strabo. According to Strabo the city had been constructed by Sardanapalus, the last king of Assyria. Strabo further claims that Sardanapalus' tomb is in Anchiale. The city was conquered by Alexander the Great just before the battle of Issus.

Geography

The exact location of Anchiale is debatable.[1] Like most historians British captain Francis Beaufort identifies Anchiale with Karaduvar, now a neighbourhood of Mersin at 36°48′35″N 34°41′58″E. But he adds that the amount of ruins in Karaduvar is too few for an important ancient city.[2]

Ruins

As Beaufort points out there are only a few ruins. There are a tumulus, several house ruins and an aqueduct from the original city. Bath mosaic is from Roman times.[3]

References
  1. Mersin Valiliği: Mersin Ören yerleri, Kaleleri, Müzeleri, İstanbul, 2009, ISBN 978-605-4196-07-4, p 32
  2. Sir Francis Beaufort:Karamanya, (tr:Ali Neyzi-Doğan Türker), Akdeniz medeniyetleri Araştırma Enstitüsü, ISBN 975-7078-15-8, p.265
  3. "Travel page" (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-29.

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