Laertes, located in the western part of ancient Cilicia, within the borders of present-day Antalya province, is an ancient settlement established in a strategic position overlooking the Mediterranean Sea at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains. The city, which particularly flourished during the Roman Imperial period, reflected the historical and geographical characteristics of Cilicia and became part of the local trade and administrative network in the region. Laertes harbors significant archaeological remains that shed light on the region's rich past.

History

While definitive information regarding the foundation of Laertes is limited, it should be evaluated within the general historical development of ancient Cilicia. From the 2nd millennium BCE onwards, the region came under the dominion of the Hittites, followed by the Assyrians, Persians, and the Seleucid Empire during the Hellenistic period. It is believed that Laertes also maintained its existence under the influence of these great powers. It is suggested that the city's name might be associated with the cult of Zeus Laertios, known as the protector of Mount Olympus, indicating that the city may have hosted an important cult center during the Hellenistic period.

With the Roman Empire's annexation of Cilicia in the 1st century BCE, Laertes, like many cities in the region, became part of Roman administration. Cilicia gained notoriety for piracy, especially in the 1st century BCE, but after Rome resolved this issue with armies commanded by Pompeius Magnus, it entered the period of Pax Romana (Roman Peace). During this period, settlements like Laertes may have experienced a period of prosperity with increased regional security and trade. It is thought that the city held a specific administrative or economic role within the Roman Empire's provincial system. Laertes, which continued its existence throughout the Roman period and into the early Byzantine era, gradually lost its significance, affected by the general instability and processes of change in the region.

Geographic Location

Laertes is situated in the western part of ancient Cilicia, within the borders of the Gazipaşa district of present-day Antalya province in Turkey. It was established on a high and commanding hill, a few kilometers inland from the Mediterranean coast, on the southern foothills of the Taurus Mountains. This strategic location both facilitated the city's defense against threats from the sea and allowed it to control transportation and trade routes between the interior regions and the coast.

Cilicia is known throughout history for being at the crossroads of important trade routes. Passes such as the "Cilician Gates" were vital routes connecting the interior of Anatolia to the Mediterranean. Although Laertes was somewhat off these main routes, it held a strategic position on local trade and transportation networks within its regional scope. The fertile agricultural lands surrounding it and the natural resources of the mountainous regions (especially forest products) contributed to the city's economic life. Furthermore, the region's rugged coastline provided a suitable environment for piracy in antiquity, which may have influenced the defense-oriented development of settlements like Laertes.

Significance in Antiquity

Due to its location in the strategic geography of ancient Cilicia, Laertes held a certain significance, both economically and politically. The city's location offered the potential for processing and marketing the produce of its surrounding agricultural lands, and it may also have served as a center for the trade of timber and other natural resources obtained from the Taurus Mountains. Its proximity to the Mediterranean allowed it to indirectly benefit from coastal trade and maritime activities.

Politically, Laertes is thought to have played a role in the administrative structure of Cilicia under various empires (Persian, Hellenistic kingdoms, Rome). During the Roman period, holding the status of a 'polis' or 'kome' (village/town) under provincial administration, it may have performed functions such as regional tax collection, maintaining order, and local jurisdiction. Although there is no definitive information about the city's self-governing capacity or its direct allegiance to the Roman governor, its existence indicates the spread of Roman authority in the region. From a religious perspective, it is presumed to have been a center of local religious life, with temples and cults belonging to the prevalent Greco-Roman pantheon of the era. Its possible connection with the cult of Zeus Laertios suggests it may have held a special place in the city's religious identity.

Coinage

No coins from this settlement are recorded in the NumisTR database. No archaeological or numismatic data exists to suggest that ancient Laertes undertook independent coinage in its own name. This situation suggests that the city conducted its economic activities primarily by utilizing the currencies of larger minting centers in the vicinity. Metropolises in the Cilician region such as Tarsus, Anazarbus, and Seleukeia ad Calycadnum may have provided the coin supply that met the commercial needs of smaller settlements like Laertes. The inhabitants of Laertes used the general coinage of these neighboring cities or the Roman Empire for their daily transactions and commercial activities. This was a standard approach in the monetary policies of many small and medium-sized ancient cities, indicating their preference for regional integration over economic independence.

Archaeological Remains

The remains surviving to the present day in the ancient city of Laertes, from the city's Roman and early Byzantine periods