Uzuncaburc Diokaisareia Ancient City Uzuncaburç, also known as Diocaesarea, is an archaeological site situated in the province of Mersin in Turkey. It contains the ruins of an ancient city that has a rich history dating back to the Hellenistic period. During the Hellenistic era, Uzuncaburç was a part of the Seleucid Empire, and local kings governed the city on behalf of the empire. The main settlement of Olba, a nearby city, was located in Ura, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) east of the Uzuncaburç site. However, Uzuncaburç was regarded as a sacred place by the people of Olba. In the 4th century AD, Emperor Vespasian transformed Diocaesarea into a city that was authorized to mint its own coins. As Christianity spread, many of the ancient temples were converted into churches, marking a significant shift in the city's religious landscape. With the passage of time, the population of the city dwindled during the Middle Ages. In the Ottoman Empire period, a settlement of Turkmen people was founded to the east of the ancient site, which was named after Uzunca Burc, meaning "Bastion Tower" in Turkish. Both the ancient city and the new settlement have since shared the same name. The temple site in Seleucia Pieria featured a ceremonial gate on its eastern side, consisting of six columns that were 1 meter in radius and 7 meters in height. It is speculated that these columns may have held small statues on their consoles prior to their collapse. The primary entrance to the site is located in the northwest corner and is composed of one main gate and two auxiliary gates. The center of the archaeological site is occupied by the Zeus Temple, a peripteral structure that boasts 36 surviving columns, believed to have been commissioned by Seleucus I Nicator during his reign from 305-281 BC. The Tyche Temple is located on the western edge of the site, featuring five columns standing at 20 feet tall. Oppius and Kyria are credited with commissioning the temple according to an inscription found at the site. The Roman Theatre is situated to the east of the site and was constructed during the reign of emperors Marcus Aurelius (r 161–180) and Lucius Verus (r 161-169). Finally, the Hellenistic Tower stands near the northeast corner of the walled site, with a base area of 16 meters by 13 meters and a height of 75 feet (23 meters). Teukros, son of Tarkyaris, commissioned the tower which is believed to have served as a shelter for families during times of war.r during wartime with its size capable fitting whole families inside.