Magarsus Ancient City is an ancient city located in the Dört Direkli area, approximately 4–5 kilometers west of Karataş district and around 49 kilometers south of Adana city center, Türkiye. Thought to have been founded in the 7th century BCE, Magarsus served as a significant settlement in the historical region of Cilicia and was continuously inhabited during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The city is commonly referred to as "Mallos" in ancient sources, and Magarsus functioned as its religious center, particularly renowned for its temples.
Magarsus Ancient City (Anadolu Ajansı)
History and Foundation
According to ancient sources, the foundation of Magarsus is attributed to Mopsos, a Cilician, and Amphilochos, a Greek, following the Trojan War. The city's name appears in inscriptions, coins, and official documents dating from the Hellenistic to the Byzantine periods. With roots tracing back to the Archaic period, Magarsus maintained regional importance throughout antiquity.
Urban Structure and Architectural Remains
Magarsus was built on a grid plan and was enclosed by city walls. Among the visible remains today are the fortification walls, a medieval castle, the Athena Magarsia Temple, a theatre, a stadium, a cistern, and baths dating from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.
Athena Magarsia Temple
One of the city's most notable structures is the Temple of Athena, famously associated with Alexander the Great, who is recorded to have offered a sacrifice there in 333 BCE prior to the Battle of Issus against the Persian King Darius III. From the Hellenistic period onward, the temple functioned as a center of prophecy, attracting both locals and travelers from overseas for religious practices.
Surface surveys have revealed architectural remains such as foundations, superstructures, and column fragments belonging to the temple. The temple's depiction has been identified on ancient coins. It is believed to have been repurposed as a church during the Roman Empire and is estimated to have reached approximately 14 meters in height. The preservation of the temple’s foundational level allows for the potential restoration of the structure. Additionally, the presence of a large “black stone” at the base of the temple has led to the hypothesis that the name of the Karataş district may be derived from this feature.
Ancient Theatre
The ancient theatre of Magarsus is one of the city’s most prominent monuments and is considered the largest known theatre in ancient Cilicia, with an estimated capacity of 10,000 spectators. The seating area (cavea) dates to the Hellenistic period, while the stage building is attributed to the Roman period. Ongoing excavations focus on the stage, orchestra, and seating areas.
Upon completion of the excavations, restoration of the theatre is planned, with the ultimate goal of adapting the structure for modern cultural and social events.
Excavations and Management
Excavations in Magarsus Ancient City have been conducted since 2013 under the coordination of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The project is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Erhan from the Department of Archaeology at Osmaniye Korkut Ata University. The archaeological work focuses primarily on uncovering and restoring key structures such as the ancient theatre and the Athena Temple.
Magarsus Ancient City (Anadolu Ajansı)
