Sinap Castle
Sinap Castle | |
---|---|
Çamlıyayla, Mersin Province, Turkey | |
Coordinates | 37°11′21″N 34°36′42″E / 37.18917°N 34.61167°E |
Type | Fortress |
Site information | |
Open to the public | Yes |
Condition | Outer walls still standing. |
Site history | |
Demolished | Interior |
Sinap Castle is a medieval Armenian fortification in
Geography
The castle is in the
History
The castle functioned as both a fortified estate house and a guardian along the strategic route between the Het‛umid castle at Lampron (Namrun Kalesi) and the Cilician Gates.[2] It was one of the many dozens of fortifications within the medieval Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. The fort of Sinap is located approximately six kilometers northeast of Lampron on the gentle slope of a partially forested agricultural valley. The name Sinap means "corner" in old Turkish.
Building
This three-story high structure has a simple rectangular plan with solid cylindrical towers an each corner. It was built between the 12th and 14th centuries with the typical rusticated ashlar masonry of the Armenians.[2] The lower floor, which is covered by a partially collapsed pointed vault, has no openings except for one door in the west wall. A now missing staircase once led to the second level which also has a partially preserved vault. Its walls are opened by nine beautifully designed casemates with embrasured loopholes, two windows, and an apse (?) in the east wall. The third level, which undoubtedly had fighting platforms (perhaps with merlons), is destroyed. The fortification was surveyed in 1979.[3]
References
- ^ Çamlıyayla page (in Turkish)
- ^ ISBN 0-88402-163-7.
- ^ Photographs and a plan of Sinap Castle [1]