Anemurium Ancient City

Anemurium Ancient City

Anemurium is an ancient city near the contemporary Turkish town of Anamur. It was part of the Roman province of Cilicia and was located just 64 km from Cyprus.

Anemurium Ancient City

Throughout its history, Anemurium has been a crossroads of various civilizations. Today, it stands as an intriguing site, featuring ancient artifacts and a stunning seaside view. During the Roman Empire, Anemurium functioned as a vital stopover due to its close proximity to Cyprus. The city was linked to Germaniopolis, a significant Roman city, by a road, and played a key role as a trade hub, exporting the region's natural resources. While the city's golden age came to an end with the Persian invasion in 260 A.D., many ancient remains from both Ancient Greece and Rome are still visible today at the site, such as:

The acropolis of the ancient city is safeguarded on three sides by steep cliffs, with a fortified wall and towers to the west. The lower town stretches for at least 1500 meters to the northwest of the acropolis.

Among the discovered remains are a small theater, an odeon (a type of meeting hall), three large public baths, and one smaller bath, all featuring mosaic floors. Some of the larger rooms were repurposed for industrial use during late antiquity. Additionally, there are four early Christian churches, some with distinctive mosaic patterns and donor inscriptions. Finally, an exedra was found, resembling either a civil basilica or a law court.

The extensive necropolis contains 350 sepulchral monuments dating from the 1st to 4th centuries. Some of these tombs include multiple rooms, a second story, and even an inner courtyard, all decorated with mosaics and wall paintings.

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