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Home , Aegean Region, Antioch of Pisidia, Hieron (Caria), Mersin, Myra, Olba (ancient city)

FOLLOWING THE FOOTPRINTS OF THE EMPERORS

TA R S U S JANUARY/2016

PARTICIPANT SCHOOLS () IMKB Sehit Umut Sami Sensoy Anadolu Lisesi (Bulgaria) SOU “Hristo Botev” ()Berufskolleg am Eichholz (Macedonia) Secondary Municipal School Taki Daskalo Bitola () Scoala Gimnaziala I.L. Caragiale Tulcea () Colegio Virgen de la Rosa

PROGRAMME OUR AIMS PRESENTATIONS TO REDUCE FEELING OF PREJUDICE OLYMPIC GAMES TOWARDS PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON YOU CREATIVITY AND TEAM-WORK TO DEVELOP COMMUNICIATION, CULTURAL VISIT TO , COLLOBORATION AND COOPERATION AND CAPPODOCIA SKILLS HAVE YOU HEARD?

ABOUT

After The Church of Holy Sepulchre in , the most important church, for , St. Paul Church,is in Tarsus. The Ancient Road in Tarsus has a sewer system Tarsus was first mentioned in historical record in Akkadian texts of the Neo-Assyrian era as Tarsisi. Tarsus was the principal city of . In Ancient times, Tarsus had a population of about 450.000 and remained as the largest city in the world for a long time. And also, the schools of Tarsus rivaled those of and Alexandria and Tarsus library held about 200.000 books. The oldest tin mine was found in Göltepe, 60 miles south of Tarsus AND TURKEY The first human-built holy place is in Göbeklitepe, Turkey. It is about12.000 years old. The first ever Christian to be built by man is in Turkey The oldest known human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7th Millenium B.C.) was born in , Turkey. Turkey is the birthplace of historical figures such as Aesop, Homer and St. Paul The First Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik, Turkey. Writing was first used by people in ancient . The first clay tablets in the ruins of Assyrian Karum (Merchant Colony) date back to 1950 B.C The first recorded international treaty in the world was the Treaty of Kadesh between the Hittite and Egyptian Empires, Hattusilis III and Ramses II, in c.1275 BC In 640 BC, for the first time in history, coins made of electrum were used by the Lydi- an king Croesus in , in of Turkey. Noah’s Ark landed on in Turkey Legendary city of is in Turkey. Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, “Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conqu- ered)” in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the of Turkey The number of species of flowers in Turkey is approximately 9,000, of which 3,000 are endemic. In Europe there are 11,500 species. According to the figures of 2000, there are about 9,000 bird species (Aves) in the world, of which 453 are in Turkey. Turkey is responsbile for 80% of the world’s hazelnut exports Turks introduced tulip, cherry and coffe to Europe. There is no desert in Turkey and there are no natice camels.

TARSUS

CITY OF LEGENDS, MYTHS AND RELIGIONS

ST PAUL One of the most outstanding pioneers of the newly established Church was Paul f Tarsus, born of Jewish parents, a Pharisee as for the Law, a staunch and faultless follower of the paternal traditions to which he was introdu- ced by Gamaliel, one of the most famous Rabbis in Jerusalem at that time, he persecuted with no respite those whom he considered a threat for the Jewish religion. On the way to Damascus, with letters from the High Priest to arrest and imprison and women who professed this new faith, he was struck by a heavenly light, and falling to the ground, he heard a voice telling him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” A short dialogue followed, and Saul was himself converted to the faith in Christ he had so far persecuted. From now on, Saul, the persecutor, henceforth called Paul, become one of the greatest preachers of the Good News, the Apostle of the gentiles.

PROPHET DANIEL He lived during the reign of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II and was renowned for his power of soothsaying. According to the story, Nebuchadnezzar was unsettled by a dream in which he learnt that a Jewish boy would dethro- ne him, and so decrees that all males born to the should be killed. When Daniel was born, his family left him in a cave where he brought up bu a lion and lioness. In his youth, there was another period where the minorities were persecueted and he saved the Jews from being enslaved by his scholarliness and predictions. He is revered as a prophet who bestows many blessings. He is coun- ted amongst the Jewish Prophets of the Torah and as being a descendant of the Prophet David.

SEVEN SLEEPERS Eshab-ı Kehf, which was depicted in Kehf section of the Koran, is also known as “Seven Sleepers Cave” in public. One can enter the cave, which is sacred for both and Christians, by descending the stairs consisting of 15-20 steps. According to a legend, “Seven Sleepers” refers to a group of seven youths who escaped a persecution of Christians being conducted during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius. Yemliha, Mekseline, Mis- lina, Mernuş, Sazenuş, Tebernuş and Kefeştetayuş, who escaped from torture since they believed in one God, hid inside a cave and fell into a deep sleep with a dog (Kıtmir) along with them. The people, who eventually realized that they were in the cave, weaved the gate of the cave, leaving them to death. One day, the Seven Sleepers awoke, imagining that they had slept one day, and sent Yemliha to Tarsus to buy food. Upon arriving in the city, Yemliha was astounded to find the city completely changed; and when he wanted to buy a bread, the baker said the coins he had were not valid anymore. Yemliha immediately turned back to the cave and told it to his friends. They eventually understood that they actually slept for 309 years. Not knowing what to do, the Seven Sleepers finally fell into an eternal sleep.

ŞAHMERAN

Thousands of years ago, there were wise snakes living in the underground. Their names iare maran and they are extraordinarily intelligent and caring. They live in peace. The queen of the marans is called Shahmaran (sometimes spelled Shamaran or Shameran). She is all-knowing, beautiful, and leads with grace. A young wood-seller named Cemshab is the first human to see the marans. He is exploring a cave with full of with friends; but they abandon him in order to take more honey. Alone, Cemshab sees an unusually light-filled hole in the back of the cave. He pulls away the rocks and finds deep within the cave is a magnificent garden. He crawl in, and is surrounded with light, flowers, and snakes. One of the snakes is colored milky-white, Shahmaran, she is the most beautiful. He gains her trust, staying to live for many years in the underground garden. One day after many years, he decides he would like to see his family again. So Shahmaran helps him leave, provided that he promise not to tell anyone about their underground home. He keeps his word for long time. But one day Sultan of land get sick. The Vizier says that only cure is eating meat of Shahmaran, to acquire her youth and wisdom. Word gets out that Cemshab knows where to find her. He resists, but then shows them the way. Betrayed, the wise Shahmaran says to Cehmab: “make me boil in an earthenware dish. Let the sultan eat my meat and make vizier drink my boiled water.” When that happens, the Vizier dies, and the Sultan keep living. Meanwhile, Cemshab become vizier. According to this version of the legend, the snakes don’t yet know that their leader, the all-knowing, wise, and beautiful Shahmaran, has been murdered. When the day comes that they find out, all the snakes will occupy Tarsus CLEOPATRA’S GATE The only remaining gate of the rampart walls is the main entrance which was on the west of the historical city. It is known as either the “Sea Gate” due to its proximity to the port or as the Silifke Gate because in its time it was the entrance that started journeys to the most important cities of Selucia. In travel guides of the 19th C. it is referred to as “St. Paul’s Gate”. Studies into period in which it was built have revealed that the material employed come form the end of the Byzantine Period or from the Abbaisids. There is evidence that there was an earlier gate on the site of the pre- sent day gate. It is a single-arched structure with a hieght of 8.50 m and a width at its centre of 5.60 m

“In order to improve Tarsus the young candidate for emperor, Mark Anthony, undertook in the years after 41 B.C many great construction projects. The arrival in the port of Tarsus of the Egyptian Queen Cleo- patra in her magnificent vessel enamoured her of the local people and, in that moment, Tarsus became the centre and heartbeat of the world. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony immediately fell in love with one anot- her”

MERSİN

Thecla was a young noble virgin from Iconium who listened to Paul’s “discour- se on virginity”, espoused the teachings and became estranged to her fiancé AYA Thamyris and her mother. They became concerned Thecla would follow Paul’s demand “one must fear only one God and live in chastity”, and turned to the authorities to punish both Paul and Thecla. Thecla was miraculously saved from burning at the stake by the onset of a storm and travelled with Paul to of . There a nobleman named Alexander desired Thecla and attempted to take her by force. Thecla fought him off, assaulting him in the process, and was put on trial for assaulting a nobleman. She was sentenced to be eaten by wild beasts, but was again saved by a series of miracles when the female beasts protected her against her male aggressors. While in the arena she baptised herself. She rejoined Paul in , and travelled to preach the word of God and be- came an icon encouraging women to also live a life of chastity and follow the word of the Lord. [1] She went to live in Cilicia. According to some versions of the Acts, she lived in a cave there for 72 years. Becoming a healer, the Hellenistic physicians in the city lost their livelihood and solicited young men to rape her. As they were about to take her, a new passage was opened in the cave and the stones closed behind her. She was able to go to and lay beside Paul’s tomb.

Once upon a time there was a local king who had a very be- autiful and much loved daughter. Unfortunately, a soothsayer visiting the court one day foretold that this attractive girl would MAIDEN’S CASTLE die tragically -- after being bitten by a venomous snake. In an attempt to that destiny, the king ordered a castle to be built out to sea. Once the castle was completed the king sent his daughter off to live there -- protected from serpents by the natural barrier of the sea and castle’s ramparts. For sure, his daughter would be safe there! The girl passed her time quite happily until her 16th birth- day. Unfortunately, as a gift the king decided to send his daughter a present -- a basket of figs. Excitedly the girl uncovered her treat -- only to reveal a deadly viper hidden amongst the delicious fruit. Destiny was not to be averted and the girl succumbed to its deadly bite. Locals claim the castle is still inhabited by venomous snakes.

Kanlıdivane literally means blood stained place of madness. At the centre of the site the 90 m long by 70 m wide and 60 m deep huge chasm formed the core of the ancient city. Canyte- lis originally was part of the ancient kingdom of and the chasm was regarded as a sacred place reserved to the cult of Olbios. The first settlement began in the holy chasm for many hundred years before Christ and then gradually extended in all directions during the following centuries. Canytelis thrived th- CANYTELIS rough Byzantine times as is indicated by the presence of several Byzantine churches and inscriptions. The extensive necropolis has many monumental Roman tombs U The road to the town of Uzuncaburç (High Tower) Z climbs through the Tarsus mountains for about an U hour from Silifke to roughly 3000 feet above sea level. Along the road there are tombs, stone sarcophagi, and N templetombs. At the beginning of 2nd century B.C., the C priests of the of Zeus at became the rulers of this region. These ruler-priests were called Teukrides A The main entrance to the city was through the th- “Originally the of Olba, the B ree-arched gate rebuilt by Arcadius and Honorius in town around the temple was incorpo the 4th century. Only a few remains of the theater rated as a separate city, whose first - U which is believed to have been built by Marcus Aurelius known coins were minted under R remains. The area abounds with tombs, one from the but whose foundation may Doric period, fragments of walls and towers. The site have dated from ca. A.D. 72 when Ç of Olba, which is joined by an ancient stone road still Vespasian made one province of Ci partially in use. Here, the water installations. and ruins licia. The city’s history, subsequent- to seem to belong to a different period. Some stone tombs its separation, is virtually unknown. can still be seen, and stone fragments from very early It may also have been known by the history have been rebuilt into walls. Throughout all of native name of Prakana. this rocky land portions of the Roman stand in majestic memory of the master builders of the ages.”