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Antiocheia Pisidias area
Dag Pazari (Koropissos)
•34 km North of Mut (Claudiopolis) & 48 km SE of Karaman this large and impressive site at 1400 m level is protected on 3 sides by steep descends towards the swift flowing stream of Kavak Gozu, To the north, there was a wall,. Occupied from at least the 5th cent. and was a bishopric by the 5th cent.
•Circles by ramparts (1.2 m thick by 5 m high) with 9 m square towers at intervals, the highest point was defended by a redoubt (= proheiro frourio), An aqueduct brought water from the south, there was a hippodrome on flat ground to the N. a columnar Heroon stands S of the river, and weathered sarcophagi flank the road. As bishopric it had a monastery – now destroyed – a cathedral with a baptistery, similarities with Meryemlik (Seleucea on the Kalykadnos) and Alahan, about 21 km NW of Mut, the last 3 attributed to Zeno, the Isaurian Emperor.
•Ilgin: thermal baths nearby
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•Beysehir : occupied by Hittites, ancient Karallia, another name during Byzantine times
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•Aksehir (= white city) : Philomelion, prob. a Pergamenian foundation on the highway between Ephesos & the east. Smyrniotes wrote a letter to here describing the martyrdom of Polycarp.
•Birthplace of Hodja : 1208-1284
Yalvac (Antioheia Pisidias)
•Remains are widespread 14 sq. km, theatre, temples of Godmen and Augustus, church of St. Paul. City founded in 280 BC in fertile land, strategic location. The theatre is one of its kind, there is a 200 ft tunnel under the seats
•A cavea(tunnel) which was made out of necessity to enlarge the theatre without cutting the main avenue.
•St. Paul’s church : the first and largest in Anatolia (a synagogue underneath it)
•It was in this theatre that Thecla was thrown to wild beasts. The lion however, defended her against the others and saved her life.
Lycaonia: Lystra
Karaman (Laranda)
•Interesting sites in the area :
•--Derbe : visited 3 times by St. Paul in 53 AD, old bishopry
•---Madensehir : 37 km
•--- Alahan monastery : from 5th cent. Goksu valley
•--- Derekoy Fisandon church (mosque) from 9th cent. 7 km south
•---- Cesmeli Fountain church in city center
•---Meraspolis or Meraspulla Cave : in Ermenek town, one of the largest in the world
•--- Manazan caves, in Yesildere Valley on Karaman-Tasdere road 40 km away
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•Destroyed by Perdicas in 322 BC. Later, Byzantine. In 1256 taken over by Karamanoglou Bey.
•Many Armenians and Greeks from this area still retain the name Karaman.
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•Mt. Karadag : locally known as Mahalac (Angel Michael), 1001 churches unexplored
Karaman Museum
•Manazan. 50 km east of Karaman are the fascinating remains of Manazan. Built during Byzantine times, the entire city-monastery was carved into the rocky hillside of the valley. Today, parts of the city are still used for wheat storage.
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•Yesildere, karaman : one of the oldest early Christian monasteries, countless rooms, tunnel-like passages & galleries are reached via a remarkable staircase
Isauria
•Isauria Vetus : the old Isavria, fiercely independent tribe, discovered in 1901
•50 Greek inscriptions, magnificent tombs (3-5 cent AD), epitaphs of 3 bishops Theophilus, Sisamoas, Mamas. Ruins of town and fortifications
Lystra
•Ta Lystra, mentioned in the Bible, visited by Paul, 30 km south of Konya
•Ruins of a church with a big cross marked on the wall, a winery, and ruins of a city located over the top of a hill which is called Alusumas, where another church ruin. Not excavated yet. Was on the Persian Royal Road
Lycaonia: Sillyon
Sille (Syllion)
•Rare Cappadocian Greek language spoken. Greeks lived here for over 800 years in peaceful coexistence. The reason was Jalal Rumi, who witnessed a miracle in the monastery of Saint Chariton (AkMonastir = white monastery)
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