Cleopatra's Gate, Ancient Roman gate in Tarsus, Turkey
Cleopatra's Gate is an ancient city gate from the Roman period, standing in Tarsus in southern Turkey, not far from the Mediterranean coast. The structure is built from cut stone and still marks one of the old main routes into the city.
The gate was built during Roman rule as a main entry point to Tarsus, which was then a key city in the province of Cilicia. Over time, popular tradition connected it to Cleopatra VII, who is said to have passed through here on her way to meet Mark Antony in the 1st century BC.
The gate carries Cleopatra's name even though no solid evidence confirms she ever passed through it. The legend has taken such a firm hold on the city's memory that locals treat it as a true part of their own story.
The gate stands along a busy city street near the Tarsus archaeological museum and can be visited at any time without a fee. It fits naturally into a walk through the city center, as several other ancient sites are within easy walking distance.
A Roman inscription that did not originally belong to the gate was added to the structure during a later renovation. This saved a piece of text that might otherwise have disappeared, and it can be read directly on the stonework today.
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