ANAZARBUS

in full Caesarea ad Anazarbus, modern Agali, formerly eenanavarza former city of the ancient province of Cilicia in Anatolia that was important in the Roman and Byzantine periods. It was located in what is now south-central Turkey. Founded by the Romans in 19 BC, it rivaled Tarsus, the Cilician capital, in the 3rd century AD, and later became the seat of the separate Roman province of Cilicia Secunda. Anazarbus was an archbishopric under the Byzantine Empire. After its devastation by earthquakes in the 6th century, it was rebuilt, first as Justinopolis, later as Justinianopolis. Under Muslim occupation it was renamed 'Ayn Zarbah and retained its strategic importance. It was regained for Byzantium by Nicephorus Phocas about 962 and was subsequently devastated during the Crusades. As Anavarza, it became the capital of Cilician Little Armenia early in the 12th century. The Mamluks of Egypt finally destroyed the city in 1374. A Byzantine-Armenian castlethe finest medieval monument in Ciliciastands on the ruins of the site. A Roman triumphal arch, a theatre, stadium, amphitheatre, aqueducts, and the remnants of several Byzantine churches are also preserved. Pop. (1985) 201.