Soli Pompeipolis

The Persian domination in Anatolia, which began from the middle of the 6th century BC and lasted until Alexander the Great, also applies to Soli. However, the minting of coins in the city in the 5th century BC reflects that the city preserved a certain degree of autonomy. The port city of Soli experienced a brilliant period during the Hellenistic Period while under Seleucid rule. As Seleucid rule began to weaken in the 1st century BC, difficult days also began for Soli. King Tigranes of Armenia had the city plundered and forced its people to migrate. With the reforms carried out by the Roman commander Pompeius in 67 BC to put an end to the turmoil in the region, some of the pirates from the mountains were settled in Soli, whose population had declined. The name of the city, which began as the Greek Soloi and was used in Latin as Soli, was changed after this event to Pompeiopolis (the city of Pompeius).

With Roman rule, the city regained its vitality. During his trip to Anatolia in AD 130, the Roman Emperor Hadrianus also came to Cilicia, now a province of Rome, and provided financial support for the harbor works in Soli. Soli was a bishopric center during the Christian period. However, it was damaged by a major earthquake in 525 and faced Arab raids in the 7th century.

Although they have not survived to the present day, European travelers who came to Soli in the 19th century mention that there were structures such as a theater, temple, bath, and the necropolis in the city.

Colonnaded Street: Today, a total of 33 columns are standing on the street. Of these, 4 belong to the western and 29 to the eastern colonnade. Some of the Corinthian capitals are figural. In addition, from the inscriptions on some of the columns, it is understood that the brackets facing the street carried busts of Roman emperors or high-ranking administrators.

Soli Höyük: The mound is approximately 22 meters high and 300 meters in diameter. In the surface surveys carried out on the hill, ceramic fragments dating from the Early Iron Age to the Roman Period were found.

Ancient Harbor: The harbor, some of whose remains can still be seen today, consists of two breakwaters arranged 200 meters apart from each other. Of these, the western one is better preserved. Traces showing that the large limestone blocks were fastened with iron clamps can still be seen. The west of the western breakwater has been filled with a pile of sand. According to the measurements made, its preserved length is 160 meters and its width is 23 meters. The limestone stones used as building material are approximately 160 centimeters long, 60 centimeters wide, and 60 centimeters deep. Since very little of the eastern breakwater remains, only about 40 meters of it could be measured. It is one of the rare ruins where a harbor remain from the Ancient Period can be seen with the naked eye. Because the harbors in this region were mostly used by virtue of their natural locations.

Source: Mersin Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism archive.

Places to Visit in Mersin Address: Viranşehir Mahallesi Viranşehir Caddesi 34301 Sokak Mezitli / Mersin