Sinekkale
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![]() ![]() Shown within Turkey | |
Location | Silifke, Mersin Province, Turkey |
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Region | Mediterranean Region |
Coordinates | 36°26′23″N 34°00′35″E / 36.43972°N 34.00972°ECoordinates: 36°26′23″N 34°00′35″E / 36.43972°N 34.00972°E |
Type | Villa rustica |
Length | 24 metres (79 ft) |
Width | 21 metres (69 ft) |
History | |
Periods | Roman Empire to Byzantine Empire |
Site notes | |
Archaeologists | Semavi Eyice-Ina Eichner |
Sinekkale (literally "The castle of flies") is the archaeological remains of a big villa rustica in Turkey. The original name is unknown.
Location[]
Sinekkale is at 36°26′23″N 34°00′35″E / 36.43972°N 34.00972°E in the rural area of Silifke ilçe (district) of Mersin Province. Its distance from Silifke is 20 kilometres (12 mi) and from Mersin is 80 kilometres (50 mi). Sinekkale is to the north of some other sites of archaeological importance such as Karakabaklı and Işıkkale. The visitors follow the Turkish state highway D.400 which runs in parallel to Mediterranean Sea coast. About 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of Atakent the visitors turn to north for about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). The last 500 metres (1,600 ft) is unaccesible by motor vehicles and the visitors have to walk through the bushy area.
History[]
The building is a typical Roman or Early Byzantine building. But there is a symbol of the Hellenistic Olba Kingdom carved on the lintel of one of the auxiliary buildings. The first description and a plan of Sinekkale were prepared in the early 1970s by Turkish art historian Semavi Eyice. Friedrich Hild, Hansgerd Hellenkemper, Gilbert Dagron and Olivier Callot also visited the site and recently Ina Eichner made the most accurate description of the house.
The building[]
The east to west dimension of the villa is 24 metres (79 ft) and the north to east dimension is 21 metres (69 ft).It is a two-storey building. There are five rooms in the ground floor and six rooms in the first (mostly demolished) floor. There are visible consoles in the first floor which once supported a balcony.[1] The house has a cistern, two bath rooms and a toilet.[2]
References[]
- ^ Archaeological news
- ^ Mersin Valiliği:Mersin Ören Yerleri, Kaleleri, Müzeleri, ISBN 978-605-4196-07-4 p,215
- Buildings and structures in Mersin Province
- Silifke District
- Tourist attractions in Mersin Province
- History of Mersin Province
- Villa rustica
- Olba territorium