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Ancient Road (West Road)
The well preserved remains of the two thousand years old road were found by chance in Tarsus in the year 1993(picture). The road, which was in extensive use during ancient times, may well have witnessed many famous names passing along its way. Amongst them we find people like Saint Paul, Cicero, Julius Caesar (Augustus), Athenedoros, Nestor, Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Augustus and Hadrian.
The ancient road located right in the heart of modern Tarsus, is covered for the most with polygonal basalt blocks.The road, which is 6.5 m. wide, has been excavated to a length of 60 m. The things noticeable at first glance are the cambered shape of the surface and the unusual drainage system directly below the surface of the road. Directly on the western side of the road a series of pillars are found, while on the eastern side houses dating back to the Roman Period were located. Mosaics dating back to the 4th or 5th century A.D. reveal that the road was in use for a long period of time.
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