Ancient geographers described the pass through what was then known as the Amanus Mountains as 300paces across. Historically, it and the Amanian Gate to its north formed the most important route between the regions of Cilicia and Syria.[2] Near the western end of the pass is the Pillar of Jonah, marking the spot where the Hebrewprophet was supposedly disgorged by the great fish that had consumed him.
Around 401BC, Cyrus the Younger passed through the Syrian Gates without a fight when his army of 100,000—including the ten thousand Greek mercenaries immortalized by Xenophon's Anabasis—compelled the Persian general opposing them to order his garrison to retreat.
In 39BC, it was the scene of the Battle of Amanus Pass between Roman forces under P. Ventidius Bassus and Parthian forces under Pharnapates. The Romans completely routed the Parthian army and killed its commander, compelling PacorusI to withdraw across the Euphrates and allow the Romans to restore their rule over Syria over the course of the next year.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Crusaders of Antioch and Armenians of Cilicia built several fortresses along and nearby the Syrian Gates, including Trapessac at the northeast approach; Çalan, 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) north of what is now Belen; Sarı Seki at the northwest approach; and Bagras guarding an alternate southern route between Antioch and Cilicia.[3] The Crusader fortification at Çalan was surveyed in 1979.[4]
The pass received its present name following its conquest by the Turks.
^ ab (in Turkish). Hatay Government. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
^William Smith, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, 1878, s.v. 'Amanides Pylae'
^Edwards, Robert W. (1987). The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia: Dumbarton Oaks Studies XXIII. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University. pp. 99–102, 215–216, 253. ISBN0-88402-163-7.
belen, pass, turkish, belen, geçidi, known, antiquity, syrian, gates, greek, Συρίαι, πύλαι, syríai, pýlai, latin, syriae, portae, pass, through, mountains, located, belen, district, hatay, province, south, central, turkey, belen, geçidielevation660, traversed,. The Belen Pass Turkish Belen Gecidi known in antiquity as the Syrian Gates Greek Syriai pylai Syriai Pylai Latin Syriae Portae is a pass through the Nur Mountains located in the Belen District of Hatay Province in south central Turkey Belen PassBelen GecidiBelen PassElevation660 m 2 165 ft 1 Traversed byRoute D 817 E91LocationHatay Province TurkeyRangeNur Mountains 1 Coordinates36 28 46 20 N 36 13 55 20 E 36 4795000 N 36 2320000 E 36 4795000 36 2320000 Coordinates 36 28 46 20 N 36 13 55 20 E 36 4795000 N 36 2320000 E 36 4795000 36 2320000Ancient geographers described the pass through what was then known as the Amanus Mountains as 300 paces across Historically it and the Amanian Gate to its north formed the most important route between the regions of Cilicia and Syria 2 Near the western end of the pass is the Pillar of Jonah marking the spot where the Hebrew prophet was supposedly disgorged by the great fish that had consumed him Around 401 BC Cyrus the Younger passed through the Syrian Gates without a fight when his army of 100 000 including the ten thousand Greek mercenaries immortalized by Xenophon s Anabasis compelled the Persian general opposing them to order his garrison to retreat After the 333 BC Battle of Issus Alexander the Great s army pursued Darius III through the pass In 39 BC it was the scene of the Battle of Amanus Pass between Roman forces under P Ventidius Bassus and Parthian forces under Pharnapates The Romans completely routed the Parthian army and killed its commander compelling Pacorus I to withdraw across the Euphrates and allow the Romans to restore their rule over Syria over the course of the next year During the 12th and 13th centuries the Crusaders of Antioch and Armenians of Cilicia built several fortresses along and nearby the Syrian Gates including Trapessac at the northeast approach Calan 15 kilometers 9 3 mi north of what is now Belen Sari Seki at the northwest approach and Bagras guarding an alternate southern route between Antioch and Cilicia 3 The Crusader fortification at Calan was surveyed in 1979 4 The pass received its present name following its conquest by the Turks On July 28 1832 a major battle took place at the pass between the Ottoman and Egyptian armies where the forces of Ibrahim Pasha defeated the Turks See also EditBelen Cilician GatesReferences Edit a b Belen Ilcesi in Turkish Hatay Government Archived from the original on May 15 2009 Retrieved February 28 2009 William Smith A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography 1878 s v Amanides Pylae Edwards Robert W 1987 The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia Dumbarton Oaks Studies XXIII Washington D C Dumbarton Oaks Trustees for Harvard University pp 99 102 215 216 253 ISBN 0 88402 163 7 Photographs and a plan of Calan Castle 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Belen Pass amp oldid 1097134220, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
