Coracesium

Coracesium, also known as Corycus in Latin and Korakesion in Greek, was an ancient port city on the southern coast of Asia Minor in the region known in antiquity as Cilicia Trachea. It occupied a strategic position along the Cilician coast and controlled maritime access to the Taurus frontier, serving as both a commercial hub and a military harbor at various periods.

Historically, Coracesium rose in the Hellenistic era and came under the influence of successive rulers, including the Seleucids and Ptolemies, before becoming part of the Roman and later Byzantine domains. In late antiquity it remained an important coastal town within the Byzantine world, with its harbor and fortifications playing a role in regional defense and trade. During the medieval period the area around Cilicia was shaped by the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and continued to interact with Crusader states and other Mediterranean powers, with Coracesium functioning as a regional harbor of note.

Today, the site is identified with archaeological remains along the Turkish coast, including a fortress on a cape, the remnants of city walls, and coastal harbor works. Excavations and surveys have yielded inscriptions and coins spanning Greek and Roman periods, helping to illuminate the city’s urban layout and economic role. Coracesium’s legacy persists in classical and medieval sources as a notable example of Cilician port towns that connected inland routes with Mediterranean commerce.