The best preserved necropolis in Anatolia is Elaiussa Sebaste, the ancient city in the lemon garden. Wandering in the fragrant lemon gardens and enjoying the delicious natural food of the Mediterranean

How about exploring an ancient city that has been hidden from view by tasting its fish and then swimming in the sea?

I know that if I tried to count the places to visit and see, I would not be able to get out of it. Still, let’s take a look at a few of them outlined. Then let’s reveal the best-preserved necropolis of the ancient city Elaiussa Sebaste, which made us say “How is it far away and nobody has photographed these places? …”.

For now, let’s put aside Tarsus, which is famous for its waterfall, Eshab-ı Kehf cave, Cleopatra gate, museum, church and mosques on the east side of Mersin and take a look at the west side. There is Viranşehir (Pompeiopolis) 12 km after the Mersin city exit. The city was built by the colonists from Rhodes in BC. It was founded in the 7th century and the city was named Soloi, which means sun. After living the Greek and Persian periods, the Macedonian king Alexander the Great, BC. It was taken in 333. B.C. The pirates operating here in the 64th were defeated by the Roman general Pompeius. General aftermath

He gave the city its own name and Soloi took the name Pompeipolis. M.S. The city was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 527. Only part of the colonnaded street and the port remained. While the mound is located in the military zone of today, there is nothing left from the remains of the harbor and baths.

When the trip continues towards Anamur; Lamos on the way, Tirtar Akkale, Byzantine churches in Kanlidivane (Neopolis), temple, theater, palace, cistern, water in Korikos

The Maiden’s Castle, which was built in the XIV century to protect the arch, the castle and Korikos, has a 250 m facade length. Uzuncaburç (Olba), which attracts attention with its Corinthian Jupiter temple with 8 × 14 columns, and Silifke Castle, 83 km southwest of Mersin, the west gate of Çukurova, 147 km from Mersin, is Mut Castle, Mavga Castle, 252 to Mersin. The Anamuryum and Mamuriye fortress, which are km away, and the Softa Castle, 20 km east of Anamur, are other castles that can be visited. The magnificent building in Mut, Alahan monastery, Adam rocks, Kilikya Aphrodisias near Silifke, Ayetekla monastery and Silifke museum are other important historical ruins that should be visited. Ancient cities such as Öküzlü, which is 12 km away from Ayaş, İmirzile, 11 km away, and Çatıören, 7 km away, amaze with their baths, theater, wall and rock reliefs. After these trips, you experience the pleasure of walking in the clean and warm Mediterranean air and driving a car on a pleasant route. In this region, in the most suitable environment for the season, far from the crowd, there are not many places where you can rest without getting bored! You can also visit the Mersin Museum and the houses in Mersin and Silifke, where Atatürk stayed during his visits to the region and which are now organized as museum-houses.

Near Erdemli-Ayaş, there is the Dilek cave, which has the second longest excursion gallery in Turkey, and the heaven and hell caves next to it. We enter the caves named Heaven and Hell, which is viewed from the top, with water and a church at the bottom, strengthening the stomach muscles, descending with hundreds of steps, and the “Three Beauties” in Narlıkuyu, the museum where the floor mosaic is located.

The mosaic engraved on the bathhouse floor of Pojmenios’ palace symbolizes the daughters of Zeus, the demigoddess Aglaia, Thalia and Euphrosyne. In the inscription next to the three beauties, it is told that Poimenios, the friend of the kings, discovered the miraculous water of the bath. Complex M.S. It is dated in the 4th century.

And finally, our main subject is in the ancient city Elaiussa Sebaste in Ayaş. The city, which is very easily accessible, is located on both sides of the Antalya-Mersin highway. Those who climb 500 m from the coastal road can turn from the village mosque and visit the best preserved necropolis in Anatolia without ever getting off their vehicles. The monumental tombs of the necropolis with a view of the Mediterranean and Samandağ skyline, burial chambers, lids decorated with various figures on the facades, and sarcophagi that have not been destroyed yet.

Elaiussa Sebaste, located in the ancient Cilicia Tracheia (mountainous Cilicia) region, was founded in the late Hellenistic period (II-I century A.D.), where the current town of Ayas is located. It also experienced its brightest days in the Empire and early Christian periods. The first settlement area was the mountainous nose section. M.S. II. In the 3rd and 3rd centuries, the inner districts were rearranged and theater, agora and large baths were built. While all ports were controlled in the region, which is connected to the mainland and defined as the “Island”, the city was surrounded by walls. A bath with a mosaic floor was unearthed behind the city wall during the excavations in 1999. Theater, Agora, Great bath, physical education hall, Byzantine church ruin, temple, mixed bath complex among lemon gardens and aqueducts are the places of interest in the city. In addition, monuments in various forms, family tombs in the form of houses or temples, simple and pedestal sarcophagi, and niche-shaped burial tombs can be seen in the cemetery area, which is one of the Roman necropolises. If you want to visit other works spread over the surrounding hills for extensive information, you can contact Mustafa Sağlam, a retired teacher who is known for his mythological poetry and story books and documentary works, and you can get guidance.
Tel: (0-532) 696 86 68.

Where is Ayas