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Carol 202 | profile | all galleries >> World Travel >> Turkey from 2007 to 2009 >> Adana Area >> Samandag: Feb 08 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Samandag: Feb 08

These photos are taken near the seaside village of Samandag which is west of Antakya and about 10 miles from the border of Syria. The first site we visited was the Monastery of St Simeon. The monastery is on a hilltop between Antakya and Samandag and contains three churches. St Simeon's hobbies included fasting, praying, and preaching against the iniquities of Antioch (Antakya) from the top of a 43-foot high pillar. Then we weaved our way through the seemingly never-ending streets of Samandag to reach Cevlik and the ancient ruins of Seleuceia-in-Pieria. The big draw here is the Tunnel of Titus and Vespasius built in 1 A.D. It was built by Jewish slaves to control flood waters from a creek and to keep the town's harbor from silting up. The harbor silted up anyway, but the tunnel is an amazing site, up to 98 ft deep in some places.
Samandag, Turkey
Samandag, Turkey		 Monastery of St. Simeon on a Stick
Monastery of St. Simeon on a Stick		 Arches, and intricate carving--you can see crosses in the design
Arches, and intricate carving--you can see crosses in the design		 This waas the first place I've seen the capitals with this intricate basket-weave design. Maybe it's Syrian or Arabic?
This waas the first place I've seen the capitals with this intricate basket-weave design. Maybe it's Syrian or Arabic?
The circular ruin in near the center is the base of St. Simeon's 43' pillar.
The circular ruin in near the center is the base of St. Simeon's 43' pillar.		 Stairs to the pillar--supposedly for people who wanted to talk to the Saint.
Stairs to the pillar--supposedly for people who wanted to talk to the Saint.		 Bob in the baptismal
Bob in the baptismal		 This is a young Kangal dog--a Turkish breed used for guarding the flocks from wolves. They get very large.
This is a young Kangal dog--a Turkish breed used for guarding the flocks from wolves. They get very large.
Path to the Tunnel of Titus. This part is carved out of the rock.
Path to the Tunnel of Titus. This part is carved out of the rock.		 Two old roamers on the old Roman bridge.
Two old roamers on the old Roman bridge.		 A view of the Roman bridge from below. the waterfall is carried by a flume.
A view of the Roman bridge from below. the waterfall is carried by a flume.		 The gorge comes to a tunnel. You could easily drive a semi-truck into this hole.
The gorge comes to a tunnel. You could easily drive a semi-truck into this hole.
Looking back at the Roman bridge.
Looking back at the Roman bridge.		 Bob and the light at the end of the tunnel. It was pretty dark long and almost totally dark in the middle.
Bob and the light at the end of the tunnel. It was pretty dark long and almost totally dark in the middle.		 Divus Vespasianus et Divus Titus! We call it Tunnel of Titus, so why did Vespasius get first billing?
Divus Vespasianus et Divus Titus! We call it Tunnel of Titus, so why did Vespasius get first billing?		 The hole on the other side of the tunnel
The hole on the other side of the tunnel
No Bob--come away from the light at the end of the tunnel!
No Bob--come away from the light at the end of the tunnel!		 This bridge was just so darn photogenic, so here it is again.
This bridge was just so darn photogenic, so here it is again.		 A veritable tomb city
A veritable tomb city		 This tombs were carved out of solid rock and were muti-storied.
This tombs were carved out of solid rock and were muti-storied.
Tombs
Tombs

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