Silifke Castle

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Castle Silifke and Göksu

The citadel of Silifke ( Turkish Silifke Kalesi, Armenian Gomardias, latin Camardesium ) is the ruins of a medieval castle on a hill overlooking the Turkish city Silifke, the ancient Seleucia on Calycadnus.

Location

The fortress is situated on a hill about 160 meters above sea level, above the river Göksu, the ancient Calycadnus, on the western outskirts of Silifke in the Turkish province of Mersin. So that you served the control of the road leading westward from Cilicia and along the leading Calycadnus road north across the Taurus. From the Alparslan Türkeş Bulvarı, leading to Karaman and Konya D -715, a road branches (Kale Yolu ) from the castle.

History

The exact construction of the fastening is not known. It was built in the Byzantine period on the site of an ancient acropolis under the name castrum Seleukeias. Despite Arab attacks they remained in Byzantine possession until it was occupied in 1098 by the Crusaders. Then it belonged alternately to Byzantium and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, to the Armenian King Leon II to 1210, together with the city of Seleucia and the westerly castle Norpert ( Tokmar Kalesi ) gave the Knights, armed in exchange for support against the Seljuks by 400 Knights and an annual payment. As the Knights gave up the property in 1226, the castle was taken over again and renewed by the Armenians, and remained in their hands. From the 14th century belonged to Silifke Beylik the Karamanoğulları.

Construction

The existing ruins today are mostly Byzantine origin with Armenian influences. The castle has a circumferential, partially preserved, partially restored crenellated wall with formerly 23 towers, which was surrounded by a moat. The main entrance is located in the north. Commercial and residential buildings inside were grouped around an open courtyard. Among the visible, strongly overgrown ruins include a ruined palace, a pantry, a dungeon, a cistern and a mosque from the emirate time.

Historical mentions

In the 15th century the Italian traveler visited Giosafat Barbaro Silifke and describes in his travelogue Viaggi fatti de Venetia sarcophagi and rock tombs on the castle hill, iron gates and a three- mile perimeter. In the 17th century, reported the Turkish travel writer Evliya Çelebi from a visit to the fort, where he mentions the 23 towers and a mosque by Sultan Beyazit. 1811-12 explored British Captain Francis Beaufort on behalf of the Admiralty, the Cilician coast and was held at the castle two Armenian inscriptions, which, however, he could not read. This was also confirmed by the French orientalist Victor Langlois, who visited 1852-53 Silifke on his Kilikienreise and mentions the castle in his travelogue.