Meydancık Castle
Encyclopedia
Meydancık Castle is the name of a castle ruin in Mersin Province
, Turkey
. The original name was Kirshu and the name of the ruin during Ottoman
times was Beydili Kale
district of Mersin Province. It is on a 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) hill at the west of the road between Gülnar and Aydıncık. Visitors can reach the castle either from Gülnar by a 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) road or from Aydıncık by a 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) road. From Mersin
the total distance (over Gülnar) is about 165 kilometres (102.5 mi).
lived in a period of turmoil. Many small states emerged and one of them was Pirandu in South Anatolia established by the Luwian people at the west of the Göksu River at around 7th century BC. The capital of Pirundu was Kirshu . However in the 6th century BC Kirshu was sacked by the Babylon Emperor
Neriglissar. After Babylon was defeated by Persians, Kirshu came under Achaemenid
rule and after Achaemenid Empire was defeated by Alexander III of Macedon, Kirshu was incorporated in to the realm of Ptolemaic dynasty
in Egypt
and Seleucid Empire
.
have been unearthed in this palace. These coins are now exhibited in Silifke
museum. Another important find is a stamp of Muwatalli II
, which is surprising because Hittites lived much before Pirundu. At the south there is a wide wellhole, the function of which is debatable. It might either be a cistern or an altar or may even be a secret passage. At the present, excavations down to 23 metres (75.5 ft) gave no clue.
Mersin Province
The Mersin Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast between Antalya and Adana. The provincial capital is the city of Mersin and the other major town is Tarsus, birthplace of St Paul...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The original name was Kirshu and the name of the ruin during Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
times was Beydili Kale
Geography
The castle at 36°19′N 33°22′E is just south of GülnarGülnar
Gülnar is a district of Mersin Province of Turkey, south-west of the city of Mersin.-Geography:The town of Gülnar is inland on a plain high in the Taurus Mountains, attractive countryside known for its vineyards and its green meadows used for summer grazing. Gülnar is a small town providing high...
district of Mersin Province. It is on a 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) hill at the west of the road between Gülnar and Aydıncık. Visitors can reach the castle either from Gülnar by a 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) road or from Aydıncık by a 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) road. From Mersin
Mersin
-Mersin today:Today, Mersin is a large city spreading out along the coast, with Turkey's second tallest skyscraper , huge hotels, an opera house, expensive real estate near the sea or up in the hills, and many other modern urban...
the total distance (over Gülnar) is about 165 kilometres (102.5 mi).
History
After the collapse of Hittite Empire, AnatoliaAnatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
lived in a period of turmoil. Many small states emerged and one of them was Pirandu in South Anatolia established by the Luwian people at the west of the Göksu River at around 7th century BC. The capital of Pirundu was Kirshu . However in the 6th century BC Kirshu was sacked by the Babylon Emperor
Neo-Babylonian Empire
The Neo-Babylonian Empire or Second Babylonian Empire was a period of Mesopotamian history which began in 626 BC and ended in 539 BC. During the preceding three centuries, Babylonia had been ruled by their fellow Akkadian speakers and northern neighbours, Assyria. Throughout that time Babylonia...
Neriglissar. After Babylon was defeated by Persians, Kirshu came under Achaemenid
Achaemenid Empire
The Achaemenid Empire , sometimes known as First Persian Empire and/or Persian Empire, was founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great who overthrew the Median confederation...
rule and after Achaemenid Empire was defeated by Alexander III of Macedon, Kirshu was incorporated in to the realm of Ptolemaic dynasty
Ptolemaic dynasty
The Ptolemaic dynasty, was a Macedonian Greek royal family which ruled the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Their rule lasted for 275 years, from 305 BC to 30 BC...
in Egypt
and Seleucid Empire
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
.
The fortification
The plan of the fortification is roughly rectangular the longer dimension being north to south direction. The total area is 750 x 150 m2 (2460 x 490 ft2) In the fortification the military units were at the north side of the hill and the only entrance to castle was via the gate at the north east corner. The palace was at the middle. A public treasure consisting 5215 coins of various Hellenistic statesHellenistic civilization
Hellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
have been unearthed in this palace. These coins are now exhibited in Silifke
Silifke
-Antiquity:Located a few miles from the mouth of the Calycadnus River, Seleucia was founded by Seleucus I Nicator in the early 3rd century BCE, one of several cities he named after himself. It is probable that there were already towns called Olbia and Hyria and that Seleucus I merely united them...
museum. Another important find is a stamp of Muwatalli II
Muwatalli II
Muwatalli II was a king of the New kingdom of the Hittite empire .- Biography :He was the eldest son of Mursili II and Queen Gassulawiya, and he had several siblings....
, which is surprising because Hittites lived much before Pirundu. At the south there is a wide wellhole, the function of which is debatable. It might either be a cistern or an altar or may even be a secret passage. At the present, excavations down to 23 metres (75.5 ft) gave no clue.