The town of Samandag, which is connected to the province of Hatay, has many historical places as places to visit. Vespasianus-Titus Tunnel is one of these places. The tunnel was built by the Roman Emperor Vespasianus to protect the people from the floods that were frequently experienced during the period.
Vespasianus Titus Tunnel
The river water coming from Mount Musa overflows from time to time, posing a great danger to the port and the people. In order to prevent this situation, a project is started that will prevent the flood waters from reaching the port city by turning them 90 degrees. However, in order for the waters to be turned 90 degrees and move away from the city, Mount Musa had to be pierced. It is said that approximately 1000 slaves were employed to drill the mountain and construct the tunnel. The slaves pierce the mountain using chisels and hammers.
The construction of the tunnel, which is 5 kilometers away from Samandağ, started in 69 AD. The tunnel, which took a long time to build, was finished during the reign of Emperor Titus, the son of Vespasian. Therefore, in many places, the tunnel is called the Titus Tunnel. The tunnel, which started in the time of Vespasian and ended in the time of Titus in 81, is 1,380 meters long. It has a height of 7 meters and a width of 6 meters.
The tunnel was built in about 10 years. In addition, a bridge was built over the tunnel to provide crossing. While visiting this tunnel, you can see both the mega project of the Ancient Period and the historical bridge.
You can also visit the ancient city of Seleucia and the rock tombs known as Besikli Cave, which are located near the tunnel. If you want to learn more about Seleucia Ancient City and Besikli Cave, you can take a look at the articles we have prepared about these places on our website.
