The other side of the world: 33. Tarsus

So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. (Acts 9:28-30)

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. (Acts 11:25)

Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” (Acts 21:37-39)

Roman Road in Tarsus
Well-preserved remains of a two thousand year old road were found by chance in 1993. It was extensively used during ancient times. People who may have walked upon it are Paul, Cicero, Julius Ceasar (Augustus), Athenedoros, Nestor, Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Augusts and Hadrian. It is primarily covered with polygonal basalt blocks (we noticed both black and white stones). It is 6.5 meters wide and has been excavated to a length of 60 meters. The road is cambered and there is a drainage system directly below its surface. On the western side there are a series of pillars. On the eastern side are the foundations of houses dating back to Roman times.

Ancient road made of basalt blocks with curbs of limestone.

Orhan greets a friend who is leading another tour.

Madder root outside a spice store. The purple cloth Lydia sold would have been dyed with madder root.

Paul's Well
In the last 7 years they have put up a barrier around Paul's Well. Twenty years ago, the well was in the courtyard of a house. We do know that it is an old well. We don't know if it was there when Paul lived in Tarsus. When your city needs a moneymaker, sometimes the city claims things that aren't verified. Paul did grow up in Tarsus but we don't know where his home was. This current area had some columns and beautiful flowers.

Paul's well is now behind a barricade.

En route to the well I saw this restaurant. I think it's safe to say that Paul didn't eat here.

Brilliant bougainvillea.

Columns

A row of roses led to the columns.

Cleopatra's Gate
According to 17th century-Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi, there were three gates in Tarsus: a mountain gate to Toros Mountains in the north, a port gate to the Mediterranean coastline in the south and the Adana Gate toward the neighboring city of Adana in the east. Because of silt from the Berdan and Seyhan Rivers, the coastline is currently 15 kilometers south of the port gate. Cleopatra entered Tarsus via the port gate. The gate was supposedly rebuilt during the Middle Ages.

When the gold gilded ship with silver oars and sails of purple satin arrived carrying Queen Cleopatra, her lover, the Roman commander Mark Antony, was there to meet her. At this gate is where the Egyptian queen is rumored to have set foot in Tarsus under a clear blue sky.

Cleopatra's Gate

Roman Ruins Under a Mosque
It is a local tradition that Daniel died and was buried here. A mosque was built on top of the burial site. Women cannot approach the tomb of Daniel without being covered with a scarf because it is part of a mosque. We looked at the arches from a Roman bridge that are to one side of the mosque.

Roman bridge (see arch upper left of photo).

Women covered with scarves in front of the "supposed" tomb of Daniel (on right).

Berdan River (Cydnos) and Waterfall

The way the Berdan (“Cold Water”) River meanders through the Tarsus Plain is one of the reasons that Tarsus was established in its present location. Emperor Justinian (527 – 565 AD) changed the course of the riverbed due to the frequent flooding of its banks. It now flows over and through what was a Roman cemetery. The river is supposed to bring health, however some people have developed problems because of it. Alexander the Great was said to have bathed here, developed pneumonia and died soon after in Syria.

The Waterfall.

Cydnos River cascades over rocks.

Selale Restaurant
Excellent lunch at the restaurant beside waterfall. Bread, yogurt, cold cooked spinach, relish. Lamb kebab with grilled tomato and pepper. Pepsi. A wedge of watermelon was a refreshing end. Ate lunch beside Ferrell Sr, Sharon and Dave. To my Nef: Ferrell had a full trout with "real eyes."

The holding tank for the swimming trout.

Which do you prefer? Kebab or trout?

Flatbread

Relish, cold cooked spinach and yogurt for sides.

My choice? Lamb kebab with grilled pepper and tomato.

A Stroll Across the Seyhan River
Back in Adana, we hopped out of the bus and crossed the Seyhan River. We walked along the river and beside a park. Sharon demonstrated her shooting prowess by popping 2 out of 4 balloons that were tethered in the river. The young men seemed delighted that she was a crack shot. We may need to call her Annie Oakley.

Peeking behind the jacarandas.

Strolling beside the river.

Our very own Annie Oakley.

Taşköprü
Then we walked across Taşköprü (aka the Stone Bridge). The bridge was built during the Roman Empire by the architect Auxentius. It is built of tufa, marble and spolia.

Stone Bridge

Vendors on the bridge were packing up for the day.

Sabancı Merkez Camii Mosque
We had some excellent views of the Sabancı Merkez Camii Mosque. It was completed in 1998 by the Sabancı family in honor of their mother. It is the largest mosque in Turkey. The exterior is similar to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

The Sabancı Merkez Camii Mosque looms up close.

Breathtaking design.

Tradition!
How many times do you have to do something before it becomes a tradition? Twice? If so, we have a new one: searching for a little "something something" sweet after we finish dinner at our hotel.