Anazarbus

Anazarbos is an ancient city in north-eastern Cilicia ( Cilicia Pedias ) (now in the province of Adana, Turkey). Other forms of the name are: Anarzabus, Anazarba, Caesarea ad Anazarbum, Justinianopolis, in post-ancient times Anazarva, ʿ Ain Zarba (Arabic ) Naversa ( Crusaders ), Cecen Anavarza today Ağaçlı or Dilekkaya ( " request rock "). The name is derived from an eponymous legendary founder or of a mountain nearby. The " Anavarza Rock " is often mentioned in the works of the writer Yaşar Kemal, such as " Memed my Falcon " and " The immortality herb". On the edge of the vast field of ruins Anazarbos Today sees the small village Dilekkaya.

The city was a bishopric in the Metropolitan Area of the Patriarchate of Antioch and is now a titular archbishop seat of the Roman Catholic Church (see Anazarbus ( Titularerzbistum ) ).

Location

Anazarbos located 28 km south of Kozan ( Sis ) in the province of Adana on the River Ceyhan (antique Pyramus ). Through its more than 200 m high castle hill, a spur of the Taurus, which projects into the Cilician plain, the local attachment had a great strategic importance in the entire ancient world.

History

After first excavation results of the castle hill was already inhabited in prehistoric times. By coinage of the city is occupied since the 2nd century BC. 67 BC, the former pirate Tarkondimotos was appointed King of Anazarbos I of Pompey. He died at the Battle of Actium, where he fought on the side of Marcus Antonius. After the death of King Tarkondimotos ' Rome II took over direct rule. The settlement in 19 BC by Augustus the city rights and was incorporated shortly thereafter in the Roman Empire. 260 AD Anazarbos was conquered by the Sassanid king Shapur I.. The Holy Tharakos, Probus and Andronicus suffered by 304 in Anazarbos martyrdom and were then as patron saint of Cilicia. Their relics were eventually transferred by Bishop Auxentius after Mopsuestia.

In the 4th century the city was destroyed by Balbinos of Isauria. Under Theodosius II was Anazarbos capital of the province of Cilicia Secunda. 431 and 435 councils were held here. A Titularerzbistum the Roman Catholic Church existed until the 20th century. The city was 525, 561 and 1945 destroyed by earthquakes and ravaged by a plague in the 6th century. After being destroyed by a devastating earthquake that ravaged all of Cilicia, the city was rebuilt under Justinian I and again honored with the name Justinianopolis.

The Abbasid Haaroon ar - Rashid built the city 796 again and also the caliph al - Mutawakkil ( 846-861 ) was here construct buildings, as evidenced by Kufic building inscriptions in a tower at the west gate. Under Basil I ( 867-886 ) Abu Abdallah ibn Amr is mentioned as Emir of Anazarba. Supposedly he left towards the city on the news that an imperial army more, and fled to Melitene, but nothing is to take them Anazarbas by the Byzantines reported. In the 10th century the Hamdanide Sayf al - Dawla left the city for (such as Yaqut reports ) attach three million dirhams.

Nikephoros II Phokas 964 conquered the city. After she fell to the Armenians, it was reconquered under John II Komnenos 1137-1144. She was until 1184 the capital of Lesser Armenia, then Tarsus became the capital.

History of Research

The ruins were visited in 1836 by Charles Texier. The British traveler Gertrude Bell visited Anazarbos. Since 2004, the German Archaeological Institute led here by a Survey.

Attractions

  • City walls, 1.5 km long, with four gates and 20 bastions
  • Boulevard
  • Spas
  • Theater
  • Stage outside the city walls
  • Aqueduct
  • Ruins of the Church of the Apostles
  • Triumphal arch with three passes, the south side features six Corinthian columns of black granite. On the north side there are niches in which stood statues.
  • Necropolis west of the city, rock tombs and sarcophagi detached
  • Medieval castle with three defensive walls, barracks, a three-storey tower, save, and cisterns.
  • A 250 m long, 4-15 m deep gorge where the road from Anazarbos goes according Flaviopolis ( Kozan ) and Hierapolis Kastabala. It was created according to legend, of Ali ibn Abi Talib, as he split on the run from his enemies the rock with his sword.
  • In the local open-air museum mosaics, including fish, and various components are as shown capitals.

Historical figures

  • The St. Julian of Anazarbos († 302), Feast Day March 16, was born in Anazarbos and suffered under Diocletian martyrdom, as they threw him in a sack full of snakes and scorpions into the Mediterranean. His relics are kept in Antakya.
  • The Roman physician and naturalist Dioscorides in the 1st century AD His principal work, De materia medica, was written between 50 and 70 AD.
Adana Province Dilekkaya (Kozan) Ceyhan River Mark Antony Auxentius of Mopsuestia Titular bishop Malatya Hamdanid dynasty Félix Marie Charles Texier
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