New Proposals for the Kursun Kalesi Temple and Stoa in Rough Cilicia

Abstract

Upon news of the discovery by villagers of a ruined site within the territory of Yegenli village of the Silifke district in Mersin province, Kursun Kalesi came under study within the frame of the "Rough Cilicia Settlement Archaeology and Epigraphy Surveys" in 2007. The ancient site is a small hilltop settlement measuring 300x200 m. Extending in a north-south direction, the settlement rises northward as per the topography. Dwellings from the 3rd to 4th centuries A.D. are scattered across the site starting from the south foot of the hill Right to the east and west of these building remains are threshing fields with olive oil and wine presses. At the highest point in the northeast part of the site is a temple and the remains of a stoa about 50 m. northeast of the temple. In the course of the 2007 campaign two Greek inscriptions were documented in the stoa and one on the architrave in front of the temple.