Along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast in Mersin, from the ancient city of Anemurium, excavations have revealed, for the first time, a 13-line inscription within the Harbor Bath, believed to be around 2,000 years old. The inscription honors a wrestler named Kaikilianos who lived during that era. It is 47 inches (120 cm) tall and 19 inches (50 cm) wide, and was found carved on what appears to be an altar or statue base that weighs half a ton. Wrestling: A Thriving Scene in 2nd Century Greco Turkey Kaikilianos had won first place in the second wrestling competition held in the city, a contest organized every five years by a notable local dignitary. The inscription commemorates the victory by this ancient athlete, and it makes clear that by that time (the 2nd century AD) wrestling was a significant sport in the region. Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan attests to the same.  “From this inscription, we learn that a competition was held here in the second century AD. This was a wrestling competition, in which an athlete named ‘Kaikilianos’ achieved success, and this inscription was made in his honor. This shows that the city was vibrant in that period, with events organized in sports, particularly in wrestling. We know from historical records and archaeological findings that competitions, both local and Olympic in nature, were held during those times. Awarding athletes who placed in these competitions highlights the value placed on sports,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Sabah. Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient WritingsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesEuropeRead Later