Cleopatra Gate is the only surviving structure of the three main gates—Sea Gate, Mountain Gate, and Adana Gate—that were part of the city walls built during the Byzantine Period in the city of Tarsus. This gate, also known as the Sea Gate, was constructed using cut stone and Horasan mortar. The passageway is formed with a single horseshoe-shaped arch. The height of the gate varies between 6.17 and 8.50 meters, its depth is approximately 6.18 meters, and its width averages around 5.60 meters. Tarsus had a double-walled fortification system, and these gates were closed in times of war.

^{Cleopatra Gate (T.C. Tarsus Kaymakamlığı)}

Construction Period and Architectural Features

Research based on the building materials and architectural characteristics suggests that the current structure dates between the late Byzantine Period and the Abbasid Era. Historical evidence indicates that another gate may have existed in this location before the current one. Until the late 18th century, the triple-gated city walls remained intact. However, in 1835, the Egyptian ruler Ibrahim Pasha ordered their demolition, leaving only the two-pillared, single-arched Sea Gate standing.

^{Cleopatra Gate (T.C. Tarsus Kaymakamlığı)}

Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius

According to historical sources and local legends, the meeting of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Roman General Marcus Antonius in Tarsus inspired the gate’s popular name, “Cleopatra Gate.” In the Seyahatname of the famous Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi, it is referred to as the “Harbor Gate” (İskele Kapısı). Cleopatra and Antonius were ceremonially welcomed at Gözlü Kule, the port of ancient Tarsus, and entered the city through the Sea Gate. Marcus Antonius’s arrival in Anatolia is linked to the power structure established after Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE and the formation of the Second Triumvirate.

Current Condition and Restoration

The original structure of Cleopatra Gate has been partially destroyed and later rebuilt using spolia (reused stones). Today, the gate is presented to visitors with informative displays about its history. However, the restorations have altered its original appearance. As the only remaining gate of ancient Tarsus, Cleopatra Gate now stands prominently in the city center, on Mersin Street, serving as a key historical landmark.