Aigeai, located in Yumurtalık district center, was an important port city in the Cilicia Pedias (Lowland Cilicia) region in ancient times, east of the Ceyhan River and west of the Gulf of Iskenderun. The city was named Aigeai in the Hellenistic Period, Aegeae in the Roman Period, Ajazzo Lajazzo in the Middle Ages and Ayas in later periods. According to city coins, the history of the city dates back to the 2nd century BC. Ancient writers Pausanias, Tacitus and Strabon mentioned the Ancient City of Aigeai in their works.
Aegeae was free during the Roman imperial period and was used as a strategically important naval base. One of the three largest temples of Asklepios in the ancient world is in this city. Asklepion, the health center of the city, is famous. It is written that Emperor Caracalla, who visited the city in the summer of 215 AD, got rid of his troubles in this asklepion. One of the temple-hospitals called Asklepion, where the first medical education in history was given, is here.
The visible ruins of the city are Ayas Liman Castle, Sea Castle, Solomon’s Tower, city walls ruins, bath ruins, columned street, rock tombs and sarcophagi, votive stones, round altars, pipes, sculpture pieces, millstones, inscriptions and architectural elements. A group of mosaics were unearthed during the excavations. Eros (god of love), hippocampus (seahorse) and fish were depicted in the mosaics and are currently exhibited in the Adana Museum.
Source: Adana Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
Places to Visit in Adana
Source: Adana Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate
