Cleopatra's Gate in Tarsus, Turkey
According to Acts 22:3, the apostle Paul was born in Tarsus, a city in modern day Turkey. In its day, it was one of the top 5 intellectual centers of the Roman world. It is estimated that as many as 250,000 - 400,000 people lived there.
Tarsus was strategically located about 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea on the Cydnus River, on a main east/west road providing access from Anatolia, the westernmost protrusion of Asia Minor, through the Amanus Mountains to Mesopotamia.
Paul was a citizen of this distinguished city (Acts 9:11; 21:39). He went to Jerusalem at an early age, to be trained there under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel.
Little of Tarsus during the time of Paul has been excavated due to the location of the modern city atop the ruins. Excavations have turned up a paved city street along with a colonnaded podium, which may date to the 2nd century BC.
The Gate of Cleopatra, also called the “Sea Gate,” still stands today, though it has been significantly restored. It was believed that Cleopatra sailed up the Cydnus River disguised as Aphrodite and came through this gate in 41 BC on her way to meet Mark Antony.
Tarsus was strategically located about 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea on the Cydnus River, on a main east/west road providing access from Anatolia, the westernmost protrusion of Asia Minor, through the Amanus Mountains to Mesopotamia.
Paul was a citizen of this distinguished city (Acts 9:11; 21:39). He went to Jerusalem at an early age, to be trained there under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel.
Little of Tarsus during the time of Paul has been excavated due to the location of the modern city atop the ruins. Excavations have turned up a paved city street along with a colonnaded podium, which may date to the 2nd century BC.
The Gate of Cleopatra, also called the “Sea Gate,” still stands today, though it has been significantly restored. It was believed that Cleopatra sailed up the Cydnus River disguised as Aphrodite and came through this gate in 41 BC on her way to meet Mark Antony.
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