Olba Kingdom

Olba Kingdom was an ancient kingdom in south Anatolia. It was a vassal of the Seleucid and Roman Empires.

Mausoleum of Queen Aba

Geography

The kingdom was a small state situated in Cilicia Trachea, present Mersin Province, Turkey. It was bounded by the Toros Mountains in the north, Mediterranean Sea in the south, Lamos River in the east and the river Calycadnus (Göksu) in the west.[1] The archaeologists today call this area Olba Territorium. Its capital was Ura, a settlement to the northeast of Uzuncaburç (Diokaisareia)

History

Its kings were also priests and the kingdom was an example of temple state.[2] Although a minor political power it was a prosperous state. The origin of its wealth was olive oil and grapes.

It flourished during the Hellenistic Age. During the age of the Cilician pirates, it lost its ports and its economy suffered. Ksenophanes was one of the pirates. After he was killed his daughter Aba who was raised as a priestess married to the king and became the de facto ruler of Olba state between 43 BC to 39 BC. Aba paid obeisance to Cleopatra of Ancient Egypt and Marcus Antonius of the Roman Empire. Olba once again flourished under Roman Empire rule.[3] However, after Capadocian king Archelaus was appointed as the governor of Cilicia in 25 BC Olba lost its semiindependence and thereafter it was incorporated into Isauria province of the Roman Empire.

Archaeology of Olba

Below is the list of archaeological remains in Olba Territorium (including later additions)

  • Hermes temple in Çatıören
  • Mancınık Castle
  • Castle walls of Meydankale
  • Tapureli
  • Tyche temple in Diokaesareia
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References
  1. World Archaeology page
  2. Seton LLoyd:Ancient Turkey, translated by Ender Varinlioğlu, ISBN 975-403-084-7 pg 219
  3. Şahin Özkan's essay in Yumuktepe page (in Turkish)
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