Korykos — Cilician Harbour Castles
Hellenistic to Byzantine (200 BCE–1361 CE) then Armenian·Hellenistic / Armenian Cilicia·🇹🇷 Mersin Province, Turkey
About
About Korykos — Cilician Harbour Castles
Korykos — Cilician Harbour Castles in Mersin Province, Turkey is a Hellenistic to Byzantine (200 BCE–1361 CE) then Armenian ancient-city attributed to Hellenistic / Armenian Cilicia. Paired harbours with Maiden's Castle island and land castle 0.5 km apart linked by mole. Bean Korykos twin castles with Byzantine and Armenian phases, harbour moles submerged.
Why it mattersKey Hellenistic / Armenian Cilicia hill site illustrating Anatolian settlement
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Hellenistic urbanism
- 02Lycian federation cult
Theories
- 01Mountain defensive settlement
- 02Sanctuary federation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 200 BCE
- Period
- Hellenistic to Byzantine (200 BCE–1361 CE) then Armenian
- Culture
- Hellenistic / Armenian Cilicia
- Purpose
- Paired harbours with Maiden's Castle island and land castle 0.5 km apart linked by mole
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 200 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Systematic survey
On the ground
Structures & features
36.4600° N · 34.1400° E · 5 m · 4 mapped features
Korykos — Cilician Harbour Castles — Theatre / Agora
theatrePublic building
36.4602° N · 34.1401° EKorykos — Cilician Harbour Castles — City Walls
wallsEnclosing walls
36.4598° N · 34.1402° EKorykos — Cilician Harbour Castles — Temple Precinct
templeTemple
36.4604° N · 34.1398° EKorykos — Cilician Harbour Castles — Secondary Enclosure
enclosureWalled secondary area
36.4596° N · 34.1399° E