Anazarva
Anazarva is the place, known
as Caesarea or Anazarbus, in the Roman Empire located in the Kozan district 28
Km. to the south of Adana. The small village built just outside the
ancient city is called Dilekkaya.
We almost have no information
about the history of Anazarva before the Roman empire
period.City began to be called as Caesarea or Anazarbus after the visit of
Emperor Augustus B.C 19.
Anazarva had supoorted the
Septimus Severus during the conflict of him against Pescennius Niger for ruling
the Roman empire . After Septimus
severus defeated Niger City was
awarded and started to live its most brilliant period of history.
City was metropolice of Isaurian , Likaonia and Cilicia states in
A.D. 204 205 years.
A.D. Anavarza such as the other cities also Anavarza
conquered by Sassanid King of Cilicia ( Sapur
) in 260 A.D.
A.D. 4. in the time of emperor Theodosius, Anavarza became the
capital of the province Founded in 408 Cilicia Secunda
(second Cilicia) which founded in 408.
City was damaged by the
eartquake occured in 525 A.D and it was renovated and restored in 525 by Emperor Justinian and
took the name Justiniapolice.
But after the second time in 561 suffered from
a catastrophic earthquake
city has undergone a major
plague.
Followed by the rise of Islam Anavarza remained
a buffer zone between the Arabs and the Byzantines and frequently changed hands
between the two sides for centuries.
After setting up the city again in 796 Caliph elResid Mutavakil (846 861), actively
worked to develop the city . He got rebuilt the Sis castle and built many other
structures for the city.
Byzantium empire had captured
the Nicephorus Phocas Tarsus and
Mopsuhestia castles together with
Anavarza castle in 10th century.
Anavarza city was totally devastated and collapsed when
Memlukians demolished the little armenian Kingdom in
1375 and This historical ancient site have never used once again laters on.
Today the castle located on the top of the
steep hill is a wonderfull place to
visit and take pictures.
Anavarza castle is
also used by mountain climbers and trekking fans. Watching Sunset gives you a
relaxing peace, after a tiring walk up
to castle