Abstract:

Anavarza, being accepted as one of the biggest cities of Anatolia, is situated within the border of Dilekkaya Village of Kozan District in Adana. When the city was first established is not known exactly. Strengthening gradually during the Roman period, Anavarza that was annexed by Rome in the 1st century, started to compete with Tarsus, the giant city of the ancient world, in every respect, towards the end of the 2nd century A.D. Since then it became one of the most important metropolises of Anatolia. In the city during the Roman Period; victory arches, column roads, stadium, theater, amphitheater, baths, administrative buildings, temples, aqueducts, etc. so many magnificent structures were built. In this city that continued to enlarge in Byzantine period, churches and chapels were also built besides previous structures. The city, damaged by the frequent earthquakes in the region, was invaded by Arabs in the 8th century and called as Ayn Zarba. Included in Byzantine border by Nicephorus Phocas in 964, Anavarza was captured by Armenians that escaped after Malazgirt victory in the 11th century and Taurus the 1st made Anavarza as capital in 1100. Getting different roles as being capital or border castle, Anavarza was conquered by the Mamluks in 1375 and after that period the completely abandoned city has not seen any large scale settlement. Attracting the attention of various civilizations throughout the ages, Anavarza has also attracted attention of many travelers and researchers since especially the 19th century. The researchers that came to the city are as follows: In 1833, French Charles Texier, in 1840 the British Barker, in 1852, the French Victor Langlois, in 1875, English clergyman Edwin John Davis, in 1882, the British Sir Charles Wilson and Major Bennet, in 1905, the British Gertrude Bell. In this article, 31 photographs taken by Bell who stayed for a while in Anavarza in April, 1905 and did researches are evaluated by comparing it with present day situation

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