Most of use have visited the Column of Trajan in Rome, the 35 meters high marble monument which not only commemorates his triumphs during the Dacian Wars but also contained his remains after he passed away. The column was completed in 113 AD.
Trajan's Column in Rome
Far fewer people know where Emperor Trajan (53 - 117) actually died and where his mausoleum was erected. This is where we are going today. Emperor Trajan fell ill during his successful campaign against the Parthians - he conquered the provinces of Mesopotamia for the Roman Empire - and was on his journey home to Rome when he died of heart or kidney failure in Selinus, a small port town on the Anatolian coast about 45 km east to Alanya.
Approaching Selinus from the West - Turkey has built an impressive new port here but it is still empty. Together with the new international airport at Gazipasa, it shall become a centre for the hospitality developments planned for the miles and miles of sandy beaches.
We had to use our dingy to travel up the old, shallow Isauria river, now called Must Çay. The river served as a port for the old, small trading ships. Selinus was founded by the Hittite about 2'000 BC and later settled by Greek and Roman people. It was one of these many small ports on the Anatolian coast giving access to the fertile hinterland
Climbing up the steep slopes of the Selinus rock - there install a little castle on the top from the time of the Crusades. Unfortunately there is almost nothing left of the ancient town of Selinus - neither on the hill nor in the flat lands
Fortress entrance - the steepest part of the climb
View from the top over the coastal plains of Gazipasa - they will be covered by hotels soon
At the foot of the rock is Emperor Trajan's mausoleum where he was buried in 117. However, his body was shortly thereafter transported to Rome and re-buried in the pedestal of the marble column dedicated to his victories in today's Romania
The Isauria River is still flanked by old port structures which must have been used in Roman times. However there was no plaque or note explaining their purpose.
Am sure, Venetian sailors never ventured here. It was off the track to Cyprus which was their main base on the way to the Levant. If you sail 100 nautical miles straight south, you will actually reach the northwestern coast of the island.
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