Tarsus, Turkey
“Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city...”
Acts 21:39
At the time of Paul (Saul’s) birth, Tarsus was an important Roman city and the capital of Cilicia. The Cyndus river made it possible for Tarsus to be a port city even though it was 10 or so miles from the coast. It was an important intellectual center with its own schools of philosophy and a long Greek history and tradition. A large Jewish community was settled here in the 170s BC. Cleopatra and Mark Antony met here. Citizens of Tarsus could possibly be given Roman citizenship for service to the empire.
Not much of ancient Tarsus is excavated because the modern city is sitting on top of the ancient city. The Museum in Tarsus has finds from the Neolithic period through the Bronze Age. In the center of the city there is a city block excavated with a Greco Roman street and colonnade with shops.
Nearby are remains of a Roman bath complex and an early crusader era church that is now a mosque. Under the Daniel Mosque, also nearby, are remains of a Roman bridge. The path of the Cyndus river was pretty drastically moved in 6 AD and the massive Justinian bridge still exists near the river today.
Cleopatra's arch probably had nothing to do with Cleopatra other than a reminder the Egyptian queen once visited the city. St Paul’s well is a deep ancient well - still clear cool water can be drawn from here - but there is not necessarily a connection with Paul.
North of the city, heading toward the Taurus Mountains and the Cilician gates (mnt pass), are remains of a portion of the Via Tauri and a newer triumphal arch.
Tarsus Excavations
