Arsinoe (Cilicia)

Arsinoe (Ancient Greek: Ἀρσινόη) was a city on the coast of ancient Cilicia between Anemurium and Kelenderis; the site is near the modern city of Bozyazı, Mersin Province, Turkey. Strabo^[1] mentions Arsinoe as having a port. In the 19th century, William Martin Leake placed it at or near the ruined modern castle, called Softa Kalesi (Sokhta Kálesi), just west of Bozyazı, below which is a port, such as Strabo describes at Arsinoe, and a peninsula on the east side of the harbor covered with ruins.^[2] This modern site is east of Anemurium, and west of, and near to, Kızil Burnu (Cape Kizliman).^[3]

The city was founded by Aetos, a Strategos of king, Ptolemy Philadelphus, and named for Arsinoe II of Egypt, the sister and wife of Ptolemy.^[4] The city of Nagidos, on whose territory Arsinoe was founded, initially protested against the new foundation. The conflict was resolved by declaring Arsinoe the daughter city of Nagidos.^[5][6] See Nagidos#The Hellenistic period and the foundation of Arsinoe.

The site of Arsinoe is located near modern an archaeological site named Maraş Harabeleri about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Bozyazı in Anatolia.^[7][8]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Arsinoe". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

36°05′33″N 33°01′20″E / 36.092495°N 33.022091°E / 36.092495; 33.022091

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