Pınarbaşı

History

Ariarateia (Greek: Ἀριαράθεια; Roman: Ariarátheia) or Ariarátia (present-day Pınarbaşı in Kayseri, Turkey) was a Cappadocian city founded by Ariarate IV (r. 220–163 BC), in the region at the time known as Sargarausena. It was incorporated into the Roman Empire upon the annexation of Cappadocia as a province by Emperor Tiberius. In the 4th century, more precisely during the reign of Constantine (r. 306–337), the eastern portion of Cappadocia was separated to form Lesser Armenia. In the middle of the same century, Armenia Minor was divided into Armenia Prima and Armenia Secunda, Ariarateia being incorporated into the latter. In 431, Ariarateia is documented as a suffragan diocese. During the Byzantine Empire, it was renamed Dasmenda. Near the neighbourhood of Melikgazi are the ruins of Tzamandos, a Byzantine border fortress town built by the famous Armenian general Melias around the year 909/910. In 1065, the town was given among other lands in the region to the last Bagratuni King Gagik II as exchange for him renouncing the Kingdom of Armenia. Pınarbaşı, originally founded by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1863 under the name Aziziye, was later renamed during the Republican period to its current name, Pınarbaşı. It has preserved much of its cultural heritage, including Ottoman-era mosques, madrasahs, and wooden houses. Notable landmarks include the Old Bath (Turkish: Eski Hamam), a 19th-century Ottoman bath, Barbaros Elementary School, now the Pınarbaşı National Education Directorate, founded in 1910, and Aziziye Mosque. The town also features Greek-style wooden mansions, such as Aşhotlar Mansion, which were later used by Turks following the population exchange.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Coot

  Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  5
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  5
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4
• Long-legged Buzzard

  Buteo rufinus (Cretzschmar, 1829) · Aves
  4
• Prometheum sempervivoides (M.Bieb.) H.Ohba

  Prometheum sempervivoides (M.Bieb.) H.Ohba · Magnoliopsida
  4
• Gray/Purple Heron

  Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4
• Iris caucasica M.Bieb.

  Iris caucasica M.Bieb. · Liliopsida
  3
• Common Crane

  Grus grus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3

Most recent

• M 4.2 — 2026-01-09
  19 km ESE of Göksun, Turkey
• M 4.4 — 2025-06-24
  4 km NE of Saimbeyli, Turkey
• M 4.1 — 2025-02-02
  19 km SE of Saimbeyli, Turkey
• M 4 — 2024-10-15
  14 km W of Kuluncak, Turkey
• M 4.1 — 2024-06-09
  10 km WSW of Göksun, Turkey
• M 4.3 — 2024-02-17
  20 km WSW of Darende, Turkey