Flaviopolis: Roman Basilica

Photos by Jack A. Waldron

After leaving the ancient Neo-Hittite site of Karatepe, I cycled through some very beautiful countryside on my way to ancient Flaviopolis, which today is the large town of Kadirli, or is it?  Kadirli is a bustling town nestled at the foot of the eastern Taurus Mountains.  Here, a roaring mountain river rushes through its heart making its way to the sea.  Along the way I passed through the village of Yukariciyanli, where I came upon an ancient structure (pictured below).  Perhaps a Byzantine church, or a Crusader outpost along the path to the Holy Land, or a Gothic Monastery of more recent date?

Kadirli is home to the Ala Camii Mosque (pictured below), which is housed within the walls of an earlier Christian basilica, and that was erected on the 2C AD base of a monumental Roman Temple.  The materials (blocks, tiles, columns, etc.) were quarried from the ancient temple cella, and used to construct the basilica and mosque.

I love how the site description states that,"a mosque was built by the Romans as a monastery at the begin[ning] of the 2nd century, reflecting Roman, Byzanti[ne] and Turkish cultures together."  What foresight the Romans had, but we understand.

If you examine the blocks of the structure very closely you will notice the various widths and heights of each block, of which there are basically three, and measuring from a common rule; four thin blocks together equal one thick block, while two blocks of middle thickness equal one thick block and so on.

Though I wish the ancient Roman temple were still intact, this Byzantine structure is in a wonderful state of preservation.  Pictured below, a view of the temple/basilica/mosque from the front.

Pictured below, the rounded basilica apse sanctuary meets the outer wall of the Roman temple cella, or, a newer constructed outer wall of the basilica.  Look closely at the cornice (geison) that meets the back wall just below the roof, and notice how the cornice members (most likely from the ancient Roman temple) are carved straight or square as opposed to rounded to fit the apse.  Further, this cornice appears to be made up of recycled architrave fascia and dentil blocks from the temple, which have been adapted to fit the cornice encircling the roof. The inner cella of the Roman temple would have housed a statue to a god, which would have sat where the inner sanctuary of the basilica now sits.  

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