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Bodrum Kale (Hierapolis Kastabala)

It is a big shame and scandal that nowadays some local moneyowners and some big politician-bosses plan to build a cement factory right on top of this extremely precious site considered as the Efesus of the Eastern Turkey. The protests and campaigns of environmental groups and individuals continue.

This is a very beautiful but little visited place. A powerful medieval castle (the local name Bodrum Kale is a corruption of Petrium, the Castle of St. Peter) dominates the Roman ruins of ancient Castabala / Hierapolis. The site is not excavated and there are no modern intrusions within sight.

from the book Eastern Turkey by Müjde & Sevan Nishanyan:

Castabala was the capital of the ancient Cilician kingdom, which ruled under Roman aegis just before and after the year 0. Cicero, the roman orator, was briefly proconsul here. His hand-picked king of Cilicia, Tarcondimotus, betrayed Pompey in his war against Caesar. Lucan makes him deliver a long speech about political morality in his Pharsalia.

The original fortifications go back to Roman times or earlier. They took their final shape under the Armenian rulers of Cilicia in the 12th century. New evidence show that the Europeans learnt much of their craft from local - primarily Armenian - builders.