Mouth of Orontes river, near ancient Seleucia Pierias founded 300 BC ... Apostle Paul started his first trip from here & passed several times later ... Church of saint Peter with its network of refuges .... A fountain with its own tank at a depth of 3 m.
KURDISTAN
ANTIOCHIA AREA Payas- Yakacik : name from Arabic = white from snow-capped Mt. Amanos Remains of Roman baths on the beach The Payas river (ancient Pinaros river) where the battle of Issos, also 2 other battles in the middle ages
Iskenderum (Alexandretta) At the foot of the Nur (Amanos) mountains A small Syrian-Christian community 1939 republic of Hatay joined Turkey after a referendum
Samandag Mouth of Orontes river, near ancient Seleucia Pierias founded 300 BC Has an amphitheatre, cemetery, temples, triple line of walls Mostly Arabic (Alawite), Aramaic, Christian, also a nearby village mostly Armenian (last remaining Armenian community) Apostle Paul started his first trip from here & passed several times later Devastated in the 526 earthquake During the crusades, it was known as Port Saint Simeon
Seleuceia Pierias
Cevlik Monastery an early Christian monastery carved from rock about 35 miles from Antakya near the sea. It is a relief carved from stone belonged to Charonion (Hell boatman in mythology) 200 m from north of the Saint Pierre church
Antakya (Antiocheia) official church Center of Christianity, visited by saints Paul, Barnavas, Peter Museum: one of the richest collections of Roman mosaics in the world
Antioch: where the followers of Jesus were called Christians for the first time. Saint Lukas from Antioch Saint Simon monastery Church of saint Peter with its network of refuges and tunnels carved out of the rock, a site of pilgrimage. There are also tombs cut into the rock along the Orontes valley Antioch Archeological museum : mosaics from the 2nd 5th cent. AD
Panorama of Antakya
Museum of Antakya (famous for its mosaics)
Antiope and Satyr
Deadalos
Dionysos
Zosimos created this
Galateia
Harbiye (Daphne) Place where Zeus caught Daphne and turned her into a laurel tree. Seleucus built a temple to Daphne here. To the Romans it was a place of resort for the rich and powerful of Antioch. Built beautiful villas with mosaics. Many waterfalls, water courses, tea gardens, restaurants, some right in the water Apollo fell in love with Daphne and tried to approach her, but she turned into an elegant tree.
Kapisuyu A drive to Kapisuyu village you will see a fascinating scene from the Zeus temple. Excellent view from there of the harbor, sandy beach and fertile plain below.
Gaziantep old name is Antep Among the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world 6th largest city, in 1921 Antep was legally renamed Gaziantep, meaning Antep the veteran Antiochia ad Taurum during Hellenistic times Center of pistachio cultivation The fortress and citadel : restored by the Byzantines in 6th cent. Mosaics from Zeugma in the museum Many Hittite remains in the surroundings Remains of Greek Doliche, some km north of town
Kahramanmaras old Maras (home of Maraslis, benefactor) Founded by Hittites 1000 BC Germanikeia during Roman and Byzantine empires Modern name from 1973 when the Assembly added Kahraman (= hero) in commemoration of the victory against the French Armenian Legion Site of the Alevi massacre (grey Wolves killed 700) in 1978 that led to a military coup in 1980 Textile companies, both Turkish and USA and ice cream (dondurma) and salep ( aflour made from orchid tubers) Nestorius : 5th cent. religious leader was born here
Domuztepe ( = pig hill) Recent excavations with remains as far back as 6,200 BC Occupied during Hellenistic period and a significant settlement during the 1st cent. AD Evidence of a church, a small Christian cemetery Site is south of Maras
Nizip Nisibis, near Zeugma, also near Rumkale (= roman castle) Some of the valuable mosaics are : Gypsy girl or Gaia, Dolphin and Eros, Physke, Euphrates, Europa, etc Rumkale : powerful fortress on the Euphrates Structure is Hellenistic in origin Today accessible by boat from Zeugma
Zeugma Among the 4 most important settlement areas under the reign of the kingdom of Commagene. It is named for the bridge of boats (zeugma) which crossed the Euphrates there. Originally founded by Seleucos I Nicator, one of the generals of Alexander in 300 BC. King Seleucos almost certainly named the city Seleuceia after himself. At its peak, it had 80,000 people. In 64 BC conquered by Romans, named changed into Zeugma. City on the Silk road connecting Antioch to China, of great commercial importance
In 265 invasion by Sassanid king Shapur I destroyed it fully, not able to recover, An earthquake followed buried the city beneath rubble. The city never regained prosperity as during the roman times Due to Arab raids of 6th cent. city abandoned again Village Belkis founded in 17th cent. During roman times, it was home to high ranking officials and officers, beautiful art in the form of steles, rock reliefs, statures and altars. Became rich At Iskele ustu, 65,000 seal imprints (in clay, known as Bulla) were found in a place which is believed to serve as the archives for the customs of ancient Zeugma. Imprints were used in saling papyrus, parchment, moneybags and customs bales : lots of trade
Recent excavations and the Legacy of ancient Zeugma 1987 : frescoes revealed by smugglers 1992 : watchman reported illegal activity, trench dug by smugglers. Museum team uncovered a villa with magnificent mosaic pavements this 1st cent. roman villa consisted of galleries around an atrium with 8 columns and rooms. The mosaic was the marriage of Dionysos to Ariadne. Sadly 6 of the figures portrayed were stolen in 1998. Mosaic fragments discovered during construction of the Birecik Dam wall that commenced in 1996, Museum halted the work to excavate. Roman bath and Gymnasium with 36 mosaic panels
On the clay quarry area in front of the dam wall a large Bronze Age cemetery discovered. 8,000 pottery vessels were found in 320 graves. Salvage operations carried out by Nantes Univ. Mosaic with the head of Dionysos and Oceanos and Tethys with sea creatures Minos bull A fountain with its own tank at a depth of 3 m Marble figure of Apollo
9 figures depicting Achilles being taken by Odysseus to fight in the Troyan War bronze statue of Mars found among storage jars altogether 17 mosaic pavements with walls decorated with colourful frescoes ancient Birtha (Roman) and Macedonopolis (religious see) prob. coincide with Zeugma bishop of Macedonopolis attended the council of Chalcedon (451 AD)
Malatya (Melitene) apricot capital of Turkey, base for Nemrut Dagi (instead of Adiyaman or Kahta) 3,000 years old town, Hittites (Melid), roman (Melitene) the Byzantine town was at Battalgazi (Arslantepe) Kahta : nearby Karakus (burial place of the royal ladies of the roman-era kingdom of Commagene)
Ancient Malatya
Arsameia the Roman-period city of king Antiochos Nemrut Nemrud : mountain 2,150 m high. Kings of Commagene from 80 BC to 72 AD rules Adiyaman and vicinity. Its capital was Samosata (Samsat) founded 80 BC by Mithridates father of Antiochos.
The magnificent ruins on the summit are not those of an inhabited site, however. They are instead the famous tumulus (burial mound) and hierotheseion : a word that means the sacred burial precint of the royal family -whose use is only known in Commagene- of King Antiochos I who ruled from 69 to 36 BC. In a cult inscription Antiochos declares that he had the site built for the ages and generations that were to follow him as a dept of thanks to the gods and to his deified ancestors for their manifest assistance. The king also declares that his aim was to provide for the people an example of the piety that the gods commanded be shown towards the gods and towards ancestors.
Mt Nemrud discovered in 1881. There is no mention in scriptures The tumulus on the summit measures 50 m high and covers an area 150 m in diameter. It is formed of stones the size of a fist and is bounded on the east, west and north by terraced courts carved out of the native rock. The eastern court was the center of the sacred precint. It is surrounded on the west by colossal statues, on the east by a fire altat in the shape of a stepped pyramid and on the north and south by low walls of orthostats (upright stone slabs) standing on a long narrow base.
On the north are the Persian ancestors, in the south Macedonian ancestors Dareios, founder of Achemenid dynasty Names carved on the rear of statues In the front of each statue, an altar for sacrifices Statues made of blocks of limestone Eastern terrace : Antiochos, goddess Kommagene, Zeus Oromasdes, Apollo_Mithras, Heracles Antagnes On one side an eagle, on the other a lion Gods wear Persian headgear The remains of Antiochos should be under the tumulus. Investigations have revealed a rocky hill under the tumulus
rock statue of Mithras The rock room is a tunnel 158 m long The longest inscription found in Anatolia at the entrance of the cult cave A huge relief showing Antiochos shaking hands with Heracles
Karakus Hill It is actually a tumulus, burial of the kings. 35 m high surrounded by four 9-10 m columns. On one of these columns is an eagle statue from which the village derives its name (Karakus= blackbird)
Nemrud Dag
Arsameia
Karakus
Sanli urfa (Edessa) Other names : Orrha, Callirrhoe, Justiniopolis Sanli = means great, glorious. It was added to the name in 1984 in recognition of war of independence The city of Edessa was a powerful centre with churches, schools and monasteries 1144 AD: siege of Edessa, most citizens slaughtered by Turks Under the Ottomans there were 3 Christian communities : Syrian, Armenian, Latin. The last Syrians left in 1924 today: stronghold of governing AK party. Many Kurds, but assimilated Traditional birthplace of Abraham a cave to the south of the city The legendary Pool of Sacred Fish : where Abraham was thrown into the fire of Nimrod The Great Mosque built in 1170 at the site of a Christian church
Viransehir Name means destroyed town Ruins of Antoniopolis : destroyed by Persians 4th cent. Destroyed by earthquake 350 AD Rebuilt by Romans with castle and double wall & called Konstantina 1644 : ruined again 1908 : uprising by Kurds almost destroyed the town
Diyarbakir (Amida) 2nd largest city in the SE Unofficial capital of Kurdistan Famous for watermelons The bones of apostle Thomas buried here Persians massacred the Romans after a siege of 73 days in 359 AD
Byzantine walls
Tigranakert Ancient Armenian city Thriving metalworks and glass production Place of the Armenian Genocide Constantius II built the city walls (built of black basalt ) by 349 AD: extend for 6 km, very prominent today The Syriac orthodox church of Our Lady 3rd cent.
Silvan (Martyropolis) Probable location of the ancient capital of Armenia built by king Tigran the Great (9555 BC) In 69 BC, battle won by Romans 387 AD : part of Byzantine empire in 400, the bishop brought a large number of relics back from Persia. Relics of martyrs of Christians. For this reason named Martyropolis.
Mardin (Marida) Syriac Orthodox churches Monastery 5 km east of city: Saffron monastery at the site was a sun worshippers structure from 2,000 BC within the monastery
Nusaybin (Antiochia Mygdonia) Plutarch suggested it was populated by Spartans Newly discovered church of St. Jacob Had medical school of Nisibis Center of Nestorian Christianity 30 km away the roman city of Dara Anastasiopolis of the 6th cent. (today village of Oguz). Extensive ruins important garrison town. Building started in 505 AD during Emperor Anastasius
Ancient Dara
Haberli Assyrians most ancient Christian community in Turkey Due to lack of jobs, most have immigrated 4th oldest, visitors from Europe attended traditional Christmans services and ate traditional Christmas meals of boiled meat and onions Assyrians began adopting Christianity in the 1st century, 600 years before the regiuon was conquered by Arabs
Midyat historic churches 24 km away is the monastic church of Meryemanna (El Hadra). This 5th cent. foundation sports a 2-storey wedding cake turret with blind arches atop a pyramidal roof, archways and lintels are also heavily ornamented mar Yakoub monastic church Mar Kyriakos Mar Azazael church
Hasankeyf (Cephe) remarkable remains original Roman, later Byzantine bishopry of Cephe Threated by the Ilisu Dam across the Tigris, stopped for the moment World outcry stopped dam construction Thousands of churches, caves
Agri Meteorite crater between Gurdulak border gate and Sancavus village Ararat peak at 5165 m Famous Ishak pasa Sarayi (palace), 17th cent. in Dogubayasit near Ararat Ahora Gorge, a NE-trending chasm dropping 6000 ft from the top of the mountain was a focus of an earthquake in 1840. Last eruption prob. less than 10,000 years ago Araxes river valley with Bronze Age sites the early Christian historian Philostorgius around AD 425. Urartu Archeological sites in the area around Mt. Ararat
Ani the ruined city : churches, mosques, shops, houses with a huge wall around the city On the Armenian border east of Kars Capital of Armenia with 100,000 people, 1001 churches and monasteries See VirtualAni
Patnos Malazgirt : battle of Manzikert
