Mersin Kanlı Divane (Kanytelleis) Archaeological Site

Kanytellis, with its ancient name, is located 50 kilometers west of Mersin and 3 kilometers north of the Mersin-Silifke highway, and with this location, it has a dominant position in maritime trade. The settlement was established around a large ground collapse (60 m deep, approximately 170X200 meter in size) located here and called a sinkhole. It is understood that it was built by Teukros, the son of Tarkyrais, and dedicated to Zeus Olbios thanks to the inscription located in the southwest corner of the tower, which is understood to have been built in the Hellenistic Period on the edge of the sinkhole. Four churches around the sinkhole were built in Late Antiquity. Especially from the well-preserved remains of the church on the edge of the sinkhole, it is clear that the settlement must have reached a fairly large and important position in Late Antiquity. In addition to the churches belonging to this period, the presence of a large number of houses and olive oil workshops also indicates that the Ancient City was an important production center at this stage. Kanlıdivane, which has been inhabited continuously until today, has used the Harbor of Akkale for olive oil exports. Kanlidivane in addition to the archaeological site, north from the presence of many sarcophagi continued rising in the necropolis area and monuments, as well as pointing also to see the tombs of Turkmen tribes uninterrupted settlement is located on the edge of the sinkhole.

WHERE DOES THE NAME KANLIDIVANE COME FROM?

It is suggested that the name Kanlıdivane comes from the fact that the places where scattered Turkmen Tribes gathered from time to time and made decisions were called Divan, or the word bloody may come from Kanytelleis, or it may be from the appearance of rocks and ruins in the sinkhole in red color like bloody. Among the people, it is also rumored that in the Ancient Period, criminals were left in a sinkhole and smashed into lions, and the rocks received this name from being left in a blood rage.

ÇANAKÇI ROCK TOMBS

In the Çanakçı rock tombs, which are located on a rock mass about 1 km southwest of the sinkhole, there are depictions of the grave owners made in relief. Among these reliefs, the relief of a mourning woman is reflected by the movement of grasping her chimation with her right hand passing over her Decapitated head. It is dated to 1 B.C- 1 A.D centuries.

RELIEFS INSIDE THE SINKHOLE

Hermias had the reliefs of his father Armaronzas and his wife and children made on the inner surface of the sinkhole. In the inscription, "Hermias had his father Armaronzas, his wife and children (statues) erected. If someone damages the statues, he will give Zeus 1000 drachmas as a punishment.” writing has been. It is dated to the 1. A.D century.

There is also a soldier's relief called “Trogomon” on the northwestern surface of the sinkhole.