Emirzeli

Emirzeli (İmirzeli) is a group of ruins in Mersin Province, Turkey.

Location

Emirzeli is a part of Karahmetli village in Erdemli district of Mersin Province. The road to Emirzeli detaches from Turkish state highway D.400. Kanlıdivane, an important religious center of the antiquity is also on this road. The distance from Emirzeli to Erdemli is 28 kilometres (17 mi) and to Mersin is 64 kilometres (40 mi).

History

The earliest ruins in Emirzeli are from the

Ruins

The castle at the north with polygonal masonry was built in the second century BC. Its dimensions are 105 x 60 m² (345 x 200 ft²), but only the tower at the east wall is standing. A phallus can be seen on the wall. Some stones of the castle were probably re-used in later buildings. To the south of the castle there is a part of stone pergola from the Roman era. On the south hill there are ruins of three basilica-style churches, probably from the early Byzantine era (5th or 6th century). The second church is partially standing.^[1]

References