Mezgit Kalesi in Cilicia | |||
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The Temple Tomb | |||
Mezgit Kalesi is a Roman temple tomb from the 3rd century. It is located near the village Öztürkmenli, 2 km off the road from Atakent to Ovacık and Uzuncaburç. The path branches off to the right opposite the ancient settlement Paslı |
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The Signpost | |||
The term "mausoleum of the fearless king" has become popularly accepted for the temple tomb. What this name originates from cannot be clarified. |
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The 7.8 metre high mausoleum has four columns supporting the gable. The columns are divided into a lower and an upper row at a height of 3.5 metres by brackets. These consoles probably carried the statues or busts of the deceased. An open staircase with a depth of 2.5 metres led into the porch, the Pronaos. This staircase is no longer available. The base area of the building is about 7.7 x 9.2 meters. |
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The rectangular frame of the pediment triangle was probably decorated with an inscription or a medallion. Unfortunately, the top of the pediment is missing. |
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The four front columns have short Corinthian capitals with smooth leaves. |
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In the burial chamber, with a side length of 4.90 metres in approximately square shape, the tombs were arranged on two levels. The consoles on which the second level rested are still there. |
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The burial chamber was probably used as living space by Turkish semi-nomads in the 17th and 18th centuries. For this purpose, a wooden ceiling was installed on the consoles and a chimney was walled into the rear wall. Its trigger was broken into the back wall of the tomb. |
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The backside | |||
Photos: @chim, Monika P. | |||
Translation aid: www.DeepL.com/Translator | |||
Source: Wikipedia and others | |||
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