Kadifekale

Kadifekale, (Velvet Castle), the ancient mount Pagos, bears another legend about the foundation of the city attributed to Alexander the Great. According to the legend, Alexander the Great fell asleep under a plane tree while hunting on Mt. Pagos. Two Nemesis appear in his dream, asking Alexander to build the new city  on the slopes of the hill where he slept. Alexander, waking up from his sleep, consults to Apollo at Claros. According to the interpretation of the orcale, "Smyrnians who will settle in the foothills of Pagos hill near the Sacred Meles Stream will be four times happier than before." Ancient Smyrna was reestablished on Mount Pagos int he 4th century BCE, at an altitude of 186 meters above sea level. The north and east walls and five towers of the castle, whose east and south walls were completely destroyed, survived. The height of the towers is 20-35 meters. Inside the castle, there is a large arched cistern from the Byzantine period and the remains of a mosque.