Anazarbus
Encyclopedia
Anazarbus in Ancient Cilicia (Adana) (med. Ain Zarba; mod. Anavarza) was an ancient Cilicia
n city, situated in Anatolia
in modern Turkey
, in the present Çukurova
(or classical Aleian plain) about 15 km west of the main stream of the present Ceyhan River (or classical Pyramus river
) and near its tributary the Sempas Su.
A lofty isolated ridge formed its acropolis
. Though some of the masonry in the ruins is certainly pre-Roman, the Suda
's identification of it with Cyinda
, famous as a treasure city in the wars of Eumenes of Cardia, cannot be accepted in the face of Strabo
's express location of Cyinda in western Cilicia.
Under the early Roman empire
the place was known as Caesarea, and was the metropolis of Cilicia Secunda. Rebuilt by the emperor Justin I
after an earthquake
, it became Justinopolis (525); but the old native name persisted, and when Thoros I
, king of Lesser Armenia
, made it his capital early in the 12th century, it was known as Anazarva.
Its great natural strength and situation, not far from the mouth of the Sis pass, and near the great road which debouched from the Cilician Gates
, made Anazarbus play a considerable part in the struggles between the Byzantine Empire
and the early Muslim
invaders. It had been rebuilt by Harun al-Rashid
in 796, refortified at great expense by the Hamdanid Sayf al-Dawla (mid-10th century) and sacked, and ruined by the Crusaders.
The present wall of the lower city is of late construction. It encloses a mass of ruins conspicuous in which are a fine triumphal arch
, the colonnades of two streets, a gymnasium
, etc. A stadium and a theatre lie outside on the south. The remains of the acropolis fortifications are very interesting, including roads and ditches hewn in the rock; but beyond ruins of two churches and a fine tower built by Thoros I. There are no notable structures in the upper town. For picturesqueness the site is not equalled in Cilicia, and it is worthwhile to trace the three fine aqueduct
s to their sources.
A visit in December, 2002 showed that the three aqueducts mentioned above have been nearly completely destroyed. Only small, isolated sections are left standing with the largest portion lying in a pile of rubble that stretches the length of where the aqueducts once stood. A powerful earthquake that struck the area in 1945 is thought to be responsible for the destruction.
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
n city, situated in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
in modern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, in the present Çukurova
Çukurova
Çukurova , historically known as Cilicia, is a geographic, economic and cultural region in south-central Turkey, covering the provinces of Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and Hatay...
(or classical Aleian plain) about 15 km west of the main stream of the present Ceyhan River (or classical Pyramus river
Pyramus River
Ceyhan River Ceyhan River Ceyhan River (or historically Pyramos or Pyramus or the Leucosyrus in Anatolia in south of Turkey or Asia Minor- Course of the river :...
) and near its tributary the Sempas Su.
A lofty isolated ridge formed its acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
. Though some of the masonry in the ruins is certainly pre-Roman, the Suda
Suda
The Suda or Souda is a massive 10th century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Suidas. It is an encyclopedic lexicon, written in Greek, with 30,000 entries, many drawing from ancient sources that have since been lost, and often...
's identification of it with Cyinda
Cyinda
Cyinda was an ancient Cilician city, situated in Anatolia in modern Turkey.Cyinda in western Cilicia was famous as a treasure city in the wars of Eumenes of Cardia. It apparently served as a collection point where booty from the Asian interior was stored for shipment to Macedonia...
, famous as a treasure city in the wars of Eumenes of Cardia, cannot be accepted in the face of Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
's express location of Cyinda in western Cilicia.
Under the early Roman empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
the place was known as Caesarea, and was the metropolis of Cilicia Secunda. Rebuilt by the emperor Justin I
Justin I
Justin I was Byzantine Emperor from 518 to 527. He rose through the ranks of the army and ultimately became its Emperor, in spite of the fact he was illiterate and almost 70 years old at the time of accession...
after an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
, it became Justinopolis (525); but the old native name persisted, and when Thoros I
Thoros I of Armenia
Toros I , also Thoros I, was the third lord of Armenian Cilicia or “Lord of the Mountains” ....
, king of Lesser Armenia
Lesser Armenia
Lesser Armenia , also known as Armenia Minor and Armenia Inferior, refers to the Armenian populated regions, primarily to the West and North-West of the ancient Armenian Kingdom...
, made it his capital early in the 12th century, it was known as Anazarva.
Its great natural strength and situation, not far from the mouth of the Sis pass, and near the great road which debouched from the Cilician Gates
Cilician Gates
The Cilician Gates or Gülek Pass is a pass through the Taurus Mountains connecting the low plains of Cilicia to the Anatolian Plateau, by way of the narrow gorge of the Gökoluk River. Its highest elevation is about 1000m....
, made Anazarbus play a considerable part in the struggles between the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and the early Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
invaders. It had been rebuilt by Harun al-Rashid
Harun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
in 796, refortified at great expense by the Hamdanid Sayf al-Dawla (mid-10th century) and sacked, and ruined by the Crusaders.
The present wall of the lower city is of late construction. It encloses a mass of ruins conspicuous in which are a fine triumphal arch
Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crowned with a flat entablature or attic on which a statue might be...
, the colonnades of two streets, a gymnasium
Gymnasium (ancient Greece)
The gymnasium in ancient Greece functioned as a training facility for competitors in public games. It was also a place for socializing and engaging in intellectual pursuits. The name comes from the Ancient Greek term gymnós meaning "naked". Athletes competed in the nude, a practice said to...
, etc. A stadium and a theatre lie outside on the south. The remains of the acropolis fortifications are very interesting, including roads and ditches hewn in the rock; but beyond ruins of two churches and a fine tower built by Thoros I. There are no notable structures in the upper town. For picturesqueness the site is not equalled in Cilicia, and it is worthwhile to trace the three fine aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
s to their sources.
A visit in December, 2002 showed that the three aqueducts mentioned above have been nearly completely destroyed. Only small, isolated sections are left standing with the largest portion lying in a pile of rubble that stretches the length of where the aqueducts once stood. A powerful earthquake that struck the area in 1945 is thought to be responsible for the destruction.
Notable people
- Pedanius DioscoridesPedanius DioscoridesPedanius Dioscorides was a Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist, the author of a 5-volume encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances , that was widely read for more than 1,500 years.-Life:...
(1st century) Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist