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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

Coast of the Pirates Korykos and Kizkalesi

Korykos

The fortress of Korykos was built on previous fortifications by the Armenian kings of Cilicia in the XIIth century. The area was heavily populated in Roman times and there are many archaeological sites in the vicinity of the castle. The castle is at the end of a small picturesque bay.

Korykos seen from W and E

Next to the castle there are some interesting tombs cut in the rock.

Tombs

The walls show the columns and the capitals of the nearby temples. A gate is topped by a small relief with the cross.

Details of Korykos

Three small chapels can still be identified among the ruins of the castle. A hole in the main wall offers the best known view of Kizkalesi.

Chapel and view of Kiskalesi

Kizkalesi

Kiskalesi

The fortress of Korykos was complemented by a small fortress built on an islet at the center of the bay. A dam linked the two castles.

Details

The dam did not survive for long and it was forgotten. A legend clearly inspired by Cleopatra's death explained in a new way the origin of the castle. A maid had been foretold death by a snakebite. Her father built the castle on the waves to protect her, but a snake hidden in a basket of figs sent by an admirer reached the castle and killed the maid. That's why the castle is called Kizkalesi (The maid's castle). In the background of this page a painting showing a basket of figs from Villa Oplontis near Naples in Italy.



See the other fortresses of the Coast of the Pirates:
Alanya
Mamure Kalesi
Silifke