“The triumphal arch, built in the 3rd century to commemorate the Roman Empire's victory over the Persians, is stunning.”
Wikimedia CommonsAnavarza Castle
Gülsen explained that buildings and infrastructure like these in the city of Anavarza were built to last for centuries. Now, 2,000 years later, funded excavations have been able to reveal them to us after millennia of sustainable existence.
The triumphal arch, discovered in 2015, originally had three arches, but only two remain, Ancient Origins reports. Since then, restoration experts have begun using laser scanners to assess the placement of the stone blocks needed to restore the structure to its original form.
“It is a huge and unique structure, decorated with Corinthian capitals, columns, pilasters [rectangular columns] and niches,” Gülsen said. “With these features, it is unique in the region we now call Cukurova and one of the few monumental city gates in Turkey.”
“Excavations in the ancient city show that it was founded by Emperor Augustus in 19 BC, but we know that settlements existed here before that,” Gülsen added. “The only and largest double road from the ancient era is here.”
“This road, 34 metres (111 ft) wide and 2,700 metres (8,858 ft) long, has entered literature as the first and oldest street in the world. Both sides of the street are decorated with 1.5 metre (5 ft) high columns.”
Sourse: www.allthatsinteresting.com
