Cilicia

In ancient geography, Cilicia ("Ki-LIK-ya") formed a district on the southeastern coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), north of Cyprus. Cilicia extended along the Aegean coast east from Pamphylia, to Mount Amanus (Giaour Dagh), which separated it from Syria. North of Cilicia lie the rugged Taurus Mountains that separate it from the high central plateau of Anatolia, which are pierced by a narrow gorge, called since Antiquity the Cilician Gates. Ancient Cilicia was naturally divided into Cilicia Trachea and Cilicia Pedias divided by the Lamas Su. Salamis, the city on the east coast of Cyprus, was included in its administrative jurisdiction. Cilicia was given an eponymous founder in the mythic Cilix, but the historic founder of the dynasty that ruled Cilicia Pedias was Mopsus, identifiable in Phoenician sources as Mpš, the founder of Mopsuestia and protector of an oracle nearby.

Ottoman and modern Turkish Cilicia

The Armenian population of Cilicia was destroyed with the Armenian Genocide. According to the Treaty of Sèvres of 1920, Cilicia was to be a part of French Syria but was given to the Republic of Turkey in 1921. The modern Turkish provinces Mersin, Adana, and Osmaniye are located in former Cilicia.

Related Topics:
Armenian Genocide - Treaty of Sèvres - 1920 - Republic of Turkey - 1921 - Provinces - Mersin - Adana - Osmaniye

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~