photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Carol 202 | profile | all galleries >> World Travel >> Turkey from 2007 to 2009 >> Mersin Area >> Catioren Temple Site, Ayas: Nov 2007 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Catioren Temple Site, Ayas: Nov 2007

Bob and I had passed a brown and white tourist sign to Catioren on several of our dive trips. We finally took time to check it out and found ruins in a remote area. This area was not commercialized at all and has not been cleared or escavated in any way. Some of the architecture is very similar to Kanlidivane, which is only a few kilometers away. We even found a Roman road that appeared to head in that direction. The only other humans we ran across were a Turkish couple on a motorcyle that stopped to try and sell us some of their honeycomb. When the wife pulled the honeycomb out of a sack, it was still on the original rack and she started pulling bees off of it. We would have loved some of it, but they wanted to sell the entire 2 kilos (4 pounds) to us at a price of 50 YTL. That was too much honey and too much lira. The site was amazing. It was overgrown with shrubbery and trees, so every few feet we seemed to make a new discovery. I'm surprised that the herd of goats that wandered through didn't keep the site more open. We only managed to scratch the surface in the time we had, so I'm sure we'll be back again.
Catioren, Turkey: This tomb was our first sign we were getting close to the site.
Catioren, Turkey: This tomb was our first sign we were getting close to the site.		 This is the road sign we passed several times and decided to follow.
This is the road sign we passed several times and decided to follow.		 This was the road we followed for several kilometers to get to Catioren
This was the road we followed for several kilometers to get to Catioren		 Close-up of the tomb door. The inside floor was covered in red mud; who knows what might be buried there.
Close-up of the tomb door. The inside floor was covered in red mud; who knows what might be buried there.
Ruins in the distance
Ruins in the distance		 The stucture on the hill looks like a small fortress--we didn't make it there this trip.
The stucture on the hill looks like a small fortress--we didn't make it there this trip.		 This looked like part of a church and mausoleum.
This looked like part of a church and mausoleum.		 This may have been the entrance to a church. The architecute is similar to Kanlidivane, but not quite as ornate.
This may have been the entrance to a church. The architecute is similar to Kanlidivane, but not quite as ornate.
This capitol is very similar as the ones at Kanlidivane, but not as refined.
This capitol is very similar as the ones at Kanlidivane, but not as refined.		 A tumble of building blocks and broken columns
A tumble of building blocks and broken columns		 The rectangular whole is a tomb carved in the bedrock--I still can't get Bob to pose in one for me.
The rectangular whole is a tomb carved in the bedrock--I still can't get Bob to pose in one for me.		 Another view of the tomb.
Another view of the tomb.
Inscriptions on a stone from a building that we think was a mausoleum.
Inscriptions on a stone from a building that we think was a mausoleum.		 This looks like a smaller version of the mausoleum at Kanlidivane.
This looks like a smaller version of the mausoleum at Kanlidivane.		 There was a serious of perfectly round holes cut into the rock. They could have been decorative, or for animals to drink.
There was a serious of perfectly round holes cut into the rock. They could have been decorative, or for animals to drink.		 This shows more of the round holes, but they are in various stages of completion.
This shows more of the round holes, but they are in various stages of completion.
Here is a water cistern. We've seen similar ones at Kanlidivane, but Catioren had nunerous cisterns.
Here is a water cistern. We've seen similar ones at Kanlidivane, but Catioren had nunerous cisterns.		 The sandstone contained a number of fossils. These look like the yummy scallops in Florida!
The sandstone contained a number of fossils. These look like the yummy scallops in Florida!		 Another seashell fossil in the rock.
Another seashell fossil in the rock.		 OK, this scallop is going home with me--I can find them in the mountains; no wonder I always got my limit in St. Joe Bay!
OK, this scallop is going home with me--I can find them in the mountains; no wonder I always got my limit in St. Joe Bay!
Another cistern in disrepair. Many of the openings were coverd with sticks to keep the goats and sheep from falling in.
Another cistern in disrepair. Many of the openings were coverd with sticks to keep the goats and sheep from falling in.		 Bob on a cistern.
Bob on a cistern.		 These steps were carved into the rock.
These steps were carved into the rock.		 A beautiful arch in the wilderness.
A beautiful arch in the wilderness.
The arch from the other side.
The arch from the other side.		 Some of the fall colors are starting to show.
Some of the fall colors are starting to show.		 These blocks are piled in an unusual arrangement. Usually the lines are much straigher, except for the arches.
These blocks are piled in an unusual arrangement. Usually the lines are much straigher, except for the arches.		 Maybe Bob is finally posing inside a tomb!
Maybe Bob is finally posing inside a tomb!
I think this was a mill wheel. A wooden beam would go in the center, with cross beams tied to animals to walk in a circle.
I think this was a mill wheel. A wooden beam would go in the center, with cross beams tied to animals to walk in a circle.		 Here is one more view of the arch. I finally noticed the cross in the center.
Here is one more view of the arch. I finally noticed the cross in the center.		 Here is a close-up of the cross. It is like the ones we saw on the churches at Kanlidivane and Aphrodisias.
Here is a close-up of the cross. It is like the ones we saw on the churches at Kanlidivane and Aphrodisias.		 A pile of dirt was bulldozed in front of an old Roman Road. There are ruins at the top--we'll save this for another day!
A pile of dirt was bulldozed in front of an old Roman Road. There are ruins at the top--we'll save this for another day!

comment | share
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
click on thumbnails for full image