Uzuncaburç (Diokaesareia) Ancient City

Uzuncaburç Ancient City is an ancient settlement notable for its structures dating from the Hellenistic period to the present day, located 30 kilometers north of the Silifke district in Mersin Province. During the Hellenistic period, Uzuncaburç functioned as a religious site subordinate to the Olba Territorium, centered four kilometers to the east. Under the Roman Emperor Vespasian (72 CE), it gained independence and acquired the status of an autonomous city under the name Diokaesareia (City of the God-Emperor), beginning to mint coins in its own name. After the Byzantine period, with the settlement of Turkic peoples in the region, the city acquired its current name, Uzuncaburç, in reference to the prominent tower that served as its symbol.

Uzuncaburç Ancient City (Turkish Museums)

Urban Planning and Street System

The Uzuncaburç Ancient City was laid out around two main colonnaded streets intersecting at right angles: one oriented east-west and the other north-south. Along these streets were arranged temples, monumental gateways, and other public buildings.

Ceremonial Gate

The Ceremonial Gate, located at the eastern end of the east-west street, dates to the 1st century CE. Five of its columns have survived, each with a diameter of one meter and a height of seven meters, featuring Corinthian capitals. It is believed that statues once stood on consoles projecting from the column shafts.

Uzuncaburç Ancient City (Culture Portal)

Triumphal Gate

The Triumphal Gate, situated along the north-south street, is a monumental structure featuring a large central arch flanked by two smaller arches. An inscription on the gate reveals that it was repaired during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Arcadius (395–408 CE) and Honorius (395–423 CE) following an earthquake.

Religious Structures

Temple of Zeus (Olbios)

One of the earliest structures in the city, the Temple of Zeus Olbios was likely constructed in the 3rd century BCE by Seleucid King Seleucus I Nicator. The peripteral building is surrounded on all four sides by a total of 36 columns in the Corinthian order. Serving as the religious center of the region during the Hellenistic period, the temple was converted into a church in the 5th century CE under Christian influence. The cella was demolished, the intercolumnar spaces were walled up and doorways added, and an apse was constructed on the eastern side.

An inscription on the city walls mentioning the name of Seleucus Nicator in relation to the roof restoration confirms the temple’s status as a sacred site during the Hellenistic period.

Temple of Tyche

The Temple of Tyche, located at the end of the Colonnaded Street, was built in the second half of the 1st century CE. An inscription indicates that it was constructed and donated to the public by Oppius and his wife Kyria, prominent citizens of the city. The structure, with six standing columns, was dedicated to Tyche, the goddess of fortune.

Uzuncaburç Ancient City (Culture Portal)

Theater

The ancient theater in the city was constructed in the second half of the 2nd century CE during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius (161–180 CE) and Lucius Verus (161–169 CE). The structure, with a capacity of 3,000 spectators, is well preserved. The stage building is two stories high, but the upper level was destroyed by an earthquake. The theater was restored between 2021 and 2023 under a restoration project supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Uzuncaburç Ancient City (Culture Portal)

Hellenistic Monumental Tomb

The Hellenistic Monumental Tomb, situated on a high hill south of the ancient settlement, is a square structure measuring 5.5 by 5.5 meters and rising 15 meters in height with a pyramidal roof. Built in the Doric order, it is believed to have been constructed for one of the Seleucid rulers or officials of the Kingdom of Olba.

Hellenistic Tower

The Hellenistic Tower, located in the northeastern section of the city walls, has a base measuring 16 by 13 meters and rises 23 meters in height over five stories. Each story is internally divided into compartments. The tower served not only as a residence for officials but also as a refuge for the population during emergencies and as a secure location for the city’s treasury. An inscription above the entrance indicates that it was built in the second half of the 3rd century BCE by Tarkyares. After suffering damage from fire, it was repaired at the end of the 3rd century CE by the governor Petronius Faustinus. This tall structure is the origin of the name “Uzuncaburç,” which the city bears today.

Monumental Fountain and Roman Road

Along the street leading to the Temple of Zeus stands an ancient fountain structure. Archaeological investigations in the city have uncovered a Roman road approximately one kilometer in length, shedding light on the region’s ancient transportation network.

Necropolis Area

The city’s necropolis extends along both slopes of a valley to the north. The area was continuously used throughout the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Among the burial types found in the region are rock-cut tombs and various forms of burial structures.

Restoration and Conservation Projects

Since 2021, a series of survey and restoration projects led by Associate Professor Dr. Ümit Aydınoğlu of the Department of Archaeology at Mersin University, and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, have been initiated. Projects have been developed for the ancient theater, the Hellenistic Tower, and the Temenos Wall, with restoration work commencing at the theater and completed in sequence. Eleven houses in the area have been expropriated and will be repurposed for tourism, including as boutique hotels, exhibition spaces, and cafés.

Tourism and Environmental Planning

Uzuncaburç Ancient City is a cultural heritage site visited year-round by domestic and international tourists. The planned destination project will offer visitors the opportunity to explore the ancient city, stay in bungalow accommodations, walk along the Roman road (trekking), and visit nearby sites such as Narlıkuyu. Environmental and infrastructure improvements are ongoing with the goal of enhancing the site’s tourism appeal.