| Amanian Gate | |
|---|---|
| Bahçe Pass | |
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| Traversed by | O-52 E90 |
| Location | |
| Range | Amanus Mountains |
The Amanian Gate (Latin: Amani Portae) or Bahçe Pass (Turkish: Bahçe Geçidi), is a mountain pass located in the Osmaniye Province in south-central Turkey. The pass provides a way through the northern Amanus Mountains to connect Cilicia to southern Anatolia and northern Syria. It is one of two passes through the Amanus, the other being the Syrian Gate to the south. The Amanian Gate was mentioned in the ancient Nabonidus Chronicle.[1]
The pass played an important role leading to the Battle of Issus. After a part of Alexander the Great army occupied the Syrian Gate, Darius III of Persia decided to lead his army north through the Amanian Gate and place his army between the two Macedonian armies at the town of Issus.[2] However, the Macedonians joined forces before the arrival of Darius, and the outcome was Persian defeat.