Located in the ancient region of Cilicia Tracheia, on the strategic banks of the Calycadnus (Göksu) River, Seleucia ad Calycadnum/Tracheia is an important ancient city with a rich history spanning from the Hellenistic to the Byzantine periods. Thanks to its geographical advantage, it served as a bridge between inland regions and maritime trade, and also became one of the centers of agricultural production. The city continued its development particularly during the Roman Imperial period.

History

The foundation of Seleucia ad Calycadnum/Tracheia, as its name suggests, is associated with one of the founders or successors of the Seleucid Empire during the Hellenistic period; it is highly probable that it was established for strategic purposes in the 3rd century BCE by Seleucus I Nicator or a ruler from his lineage. During this period, the region of Cilicia was in a geopolitically critical position, frequently changing hands between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies of Egypt. The city, with its location on the Calycadnus River, played a key role in the transportation of goods from inland Anatolia to the Mediterranean and the delivery of maritime goods to the interior.

With the annexation of Cilicia by the Roman Empire in the 1st century BCE, Seleucia also came under Roman rule. During the Roman period, as the provincial system became established, Seleucia emerged as one of the important cities of the province of Cilicia, showing significant administrative and economic development. In this process, the city must have been enriched with public buildings such as baths, temples, and an agora, benefiting from Rome's infrastructure investments. Maintaining its importance during Late Antiquity and the early Byzantine periods, the city shared the general fate of the region, being exposed to Sasanian and subsequently Arab raids. As a result of these attacks, it gradually began to lose its former splendor. However, the settlement continued to exist even during these turbulent times.

Geographic Location

Seleucia ad Calycadnum/Tracheia, as its name implies, is located in the ancient region of Cilicia Tracheia, near the point where the modern Göksu River (ancient Calycadnus) flows into the Mediterranean Sea. This geographical position made the city extremely strategic for both maritime trade and connecting with inland regions via the river. Situated at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, at the western edge of the fertile Cilician plain, the city also enhanced its agricultural potential.

The mouth of the Calycadnus River and its surroundings may have offered suitable conditions for ships to dock and unload cargo in antiquity, suggesting that the city functioned as a river port. Among neighboring cities, important centers such as Soli-Pompeiopolis lay to its east, and Anemurium to its west. This location made Seleucia an integral part of the trade and transportation network along the Cilician coastline. The river valley provided a critical route for raw materials such as timber, minerals, and agricultural products from the mountainous interior to reach the sea, thereby further solidifying the city's economic importance.