Ayas Castle and Suleiman's Tower - 3 June 2021

    Ayas Castle is located in Yumurtalık on the western shore of Iskenderun Bay, approx. 60 km southeast of Adana. The place served as a significant port since the 3rd century BC when Seleukos Nikator founded Aigeai (Sayar 2010). This status persisted in the Middle Ages, especially after the Crusaders lost control of the Levantine ports in the last quarter of the 12th century. The great Venetian traveler, Marco Polo, visited Ayas on his way to and from China in 1271 and 1296, respectively. The current standing structure seems to have been erected by the Turks in the 16th century (Edwards 1987) and is more of a fortress than a castle. 

So-called Ayas Castle *

Landform (Google Earth) N↑ *

N↑; fortress plan on information board in-situ;
entrance from west, between Towers D and E *

Tower D with adjacent building seen
from outside *

Tower D *

Towers E and F seen from outside *

Not reused stonework *

Epigraphy in Greek *

    The fortress was built with recycled stones from previous historical periods. In the photo below, some column drums are protruding from the wall of Tower E.

Tower E seen from southwest *

Tower F seen from northwest *

Looking east while standing at foot of Tower F *

Modern breakwater (G) *

Looking north from breakwater (G) * 

    In 1282 or around that date a castle (H) was built on a small island in the harbour. It could be commissioned and financed by Italian merchants and erected by Armenian masons. It is not the first period of construction on the islet though as some late-classical remains were found in-situ (Edwards 1987).

Maiden's Castle (H) seen from A *

Cat was here ;) *

Ayas Castle's interior, looking from A *

Fortress' wall (A-B) from inside *

Wall (A-B) from outside *

Gap in wall (B) from outside *

Tower C from inside, now adapted
for hen house *

Tower C from outside *

    1,3 km west of Ayas Castle, there is a polygonal watch-tower built in the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in 1536. The watchers were obliged to spot any danger coming from the sea towards Ayas Harbour. The structure has 3 levels, the highest of which is a terrace large enough to accommodate a cannon (Edwards 1987). 

Looking from northwest *

Square-headed entrance from north*

Ornamental block above door *

Walls with loopholes seen from south *

Looking inside from south *

Looking west, no danger on horizon! *

Field of sunflowers in proximity 
of Yumurtalık *

    It was a pleasant trip. I chose sideroads to reach the destination as it wasn't far from Adana. The Thursday morning traffic was at an acceptable level. I could drive at 60-90 km/h and enjoy the views, including fields full of sunflowers or the characteristic red sacks filled with onions ready to be transported and sold. The town of Yumurtalık is small and offers the atmosphere of a fishing village. I was able to observe fishermen repairing their boats at the harbour, walk through some shabby fish restaurants without waiters and smell the sea breeze. The partially restored (funded by the EU) walls and towers of Ayas Castle, as it is called, fit well into this peaceful landscape. The hen house in Tower C, somehow, didn't disturb the harmony of this place, too. Placing the chickens among 500-year-old stonework seemed quite normal. While taking pictures, I drew the attention of the locals who asked me about the time just to confirm their suspicions that I was a foreigner. Upon my answer they smiled politely and went about their business. I wish I could photograph Maiden's Castle as well, but there was no boat available to take me to the islet at the time of my visit.