The Taurus Mountains rise from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean to overlook the Anatolian plateau and lush highlands above and the sunny Island of Cyprus below.
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Landslides, wild predators, scorpions, snakes and robbers are among the dangers to traders and travelers in the mountains in the ancient world. Trade, immigration and war parties carve and solidify their paths. From the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, all ports are possible.
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Taurus mountains are named after the bull because in ancient times there were many temples to storm gods built in the mountains, where storm gods typically reside. Storm gods are often associated with bulls, such as Hurrian Teshub and his two bulls Seri and Hurri.
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The mountain range is created by collision of tectonic plates and massive crumpling of the crust. Gemstones occur in areas of high volcanic activity. The Taurus Mountains are more productive for important metals and minerals but igneous gemstones are found in such areas as the extinct shield volcano Karaka Dağ.
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Wavy green malachite and brilliant blue azurite may be found in the Taurus range. Both stones get their colors from copper inclusions, and often form near copper deposits. Serpentine is another stunning mountain gem.
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In the area of Ergani-Maden in southeastern Taurus mountains, copper has been mined for over 4000 years. The metals found in the Taurus Mountains include gold, silver, iron, copper, lead and zinc.
The first five along with tin and mercury, are the Metals of Antiquity. A zinc mine is found also in the southeast.
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Coming to attention c. 2250 BCE, the Hurrians occupy parts of Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Syria. They have enduring influence on the culture and religions of other regions, especially the Hittites of Anatolia. Hurrian origin is thought to be in the Taurus Mountains, back to c. 4000 BCE.
Bronze age Taurus range wildlife includes the mountain gazelle, Caspian tiger, and Eurasian Lion. Larger birds include eagles, vultures, and osprey, while songbirds like the golden oriole share their music. One might see foxes, wolves and jackals, but if so this little rock hyrax will be quickly out of sight.
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The Taurus range is part of the Eurasian Alpide belt, following a continuous range for about 15,000 km (9300 mi) west to east. The Alps are stunning examples of the movement of the earth when plates collide. The Himalayas are also in the system with their own belt.
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The mountains are formed by the powerful convergence of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, thrusting the Earth's crust upward. Much of the local rock is limestone, a sedimentary rock easily eroded, over time creating karst landscapes and gargantuan caverns.
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The Taurus range is the birthplace of both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The mountain range falls entirely within the borders of today's Turkey. In Turkish the mountains are Toros Dağları. Overall the Taurus Mountain Range is defined in three parts:
Western Taurus (Batı Toroslar)
Central Taurus (Orta Toroslar)
Southeastern Taurus (Güneydoğu Toroslar)
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The Western Taurus range creates the sheltered sunny bay of Antalaya, a tourist favorite today. An old city, Termessos, is famous for its semi-circular theater, and for being one of the few cities Alexander the Great is unable to conquer (c. 333 BCE). He later likens the town to an eagle's nest.
The Central Taurus has the highest point, with Mt Demirkazik at 3,756 m (12, 323 ft). From the sea the ancient Cilician Gates lead into the past, as the passage through the mountains has been used since c. 4500 BCE. The site of the pass is conquered by the Romans in the Battle of the Cilician Gates, 39 BCE.
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A Stone Age settlement, Yumuktepe, shows 27 layers of occupation. It's common practice in ancient days for generations to build atop the remains of other generations, creating a chronological layer cake of the evolution of place and people.
The Southeastern part of the range encompasses the watersheds of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Here many of the mountain streams and rivers drain into Lake Hazar, the source of the Tigris River.
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Euphrates runs from the Murat River draining from Mount Arafat in the east of Turkey. In April and May, most of the precipitation falls for the year, causing flood levels as water rushes down the hillsides. With the floods comes fertile silt.
When the waters recede, bountiful silt is left in the fields or human-made drainage basins for year-long irrigation and nourishment of the lands. Both the Mesopotamians and Egyptians, with the flooding of the Nile every year, use basin irrigation to great effect. Frogs are happy.
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From there the life-giving rivers travel through the craggy hillsides, bringing minerals and silt, with Euphrates ducking through Syria and Iran. The river hooks up with Tigris in Iraq near the Gulf.
From their origin points in the Taurus Mountains, both rivers flow through the flood plains of the northern Persian Gulf coast, again distributing precious gifts as water slows and more silt settles. In Egyptian belief, the first humans are made of silt.
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In the ancient world, the delta is a common departure point for traders, merchants and travelers going by sea. Ur would have been the Kuwait of ancient ages.
The Gulf goes into the Arabian Sea and around the corner to the Indus Valley settlers. The Indus Valley Civilization is among the most ancient civilizations. About 3800 BCE, the city of Ur is founded on the coast, at the mouth of the Euphrates.
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Sea trade reaches epic proportions as the Bronze age unfolds and Ur grows to a significant power. As silt continues to settle in the delta, the coast moves south. The ruins of Ur are now about 250 km (155 mi) inland.
For the people of the early ages, river routes and mountain passes open communication and trade with others. Tin and copper routes form established networks begun by the older amber roads.
The Taurus mountain range not only provides essential water for several countries, it's a source of precious metals. Copper is the main ingredient of bronze (88% copper, 12% tin). The mountains also purvey edible and healing herbs and spices, for those who know where to look.
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