v49_0278 - CILICIA - TARSO Unité, (MB, Æ 21)

CILICIA - TARSUS

(2nd-1st century BC)

Mythologically, Tarsus was founded by Argives who was leaving for Egypt in search of Io. The city is historically very old and was part of the Hittite and Assyrian empires before coming under Persian rule. The city fell into the hands of Alexander the Great on the eve of the Battle of Issos in 333 BC. The city then became part of the Seleucid Empire, but was sometimes disputed by the Lagides. During the Hellenistic period, it became an important metropolis and a philosophical center renowned for its Stoics. Tigranes, king of Armenia, seized the city and ravaged it. It was then temporarily occupied by the Parthians and Labienus who threatened the province of Asia. Marc Antony met Cleopatra in Tarsus and followed her to Egypt. Saint Paul was born in Tarsus in 8 in a Hellenized Jewish family.