Historic · Karataş, Adana
Magarsus
An ancient port city in Karataş, known for the Temple of Athena where Alexander the Great is said to have prayed.
- History
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Magarsus, in Adana's Karataş district, was founded as an ancient city in the 7th century BC. It served as the religious centre of Mallos, one of the important cities of ancient Cilicia, and is best known for its Temple of Athena, where Alexander the Great is said to have prayed. The city remained significant through the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, appearing as Mallos in inscriptions and coins from those eras. Visiting conditions may have changed since the 2023 earthquakes; check before you go.