Ταρσὸν

Scholarly Notes

even in the flourishing period of greek history, it was an important city. in the roman civil wars, it sided with caesar and on the occasion of a visit from him, its name changed to juliopolis. augustus made it a free city. it was renowned as a place of education under the early roman emperors. strabo compares it in this respect to athens and alexandria. tarsus also was a place of much commerce. it was situated in a wild and fertile plain on the banks of the cydnus. no ruins of any importance remain.