Tarsus is a city in present day Turkey, located on the mouth of the Tarsus Cay (Cydnus ) which empties into the Mediterranean. It is in the Mersin Province.

History

The pre-historical development of Tarsus reaches back to Neolithic Period. The Neolithic Period is followed by the Kalkeolitic and Early Bronze Age settlements. It was ruled by the Hittites, Assyria, Persia, Macedonia, Rome, Byzantium, the Seljuks and the Ottomans.

The ancient name is Tarsos, probably derived from the God Tarku . It was located at the crossing of several important trade routes, linking southern Anatolia to Syria and the Pontus region. As the ruins are covered by the modern city, it is not very well known archaeologically.

Tarsos was the seat of a Persian satrap from 400 BC onwards, later part of the Seleucid Empire. After the Roman conquest, it was capital of the province of Cilicia.

Notable Residents

• Antipatros , stoic philosopher
• Mark Antony
• Cleopatra
• Paul of Tarsus, Christian apostle, saint and missionary
• Bilal - ı Habeşi, Islamic muezzin
• Caliph Ma'mun
• Lokman Hekim

Climate

In Tarsus, at the junction point of the land and maritime routes connecting Çukurova to Central Anatolia in the Mediterranean Region, the typical Mediterranean climate is dominant.

External links

• Turkish government information on Tarsus
• Information on Tarsus from PBS