Yılankale
| Yılankale | |
|---|---|
| Adana Province, Turkey | |
Yılankale | |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Location | |
Yılankale Location of Yılankale within Turkey | |
| Coordinates | 37°00′52″N 35°44′52″E / 37.014444°N 35.747778°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
| Built by | Leo (Levon) I of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia |
Yılankale (lit. 'snake castle' in Turkish) is a late 12th–13th century Armenian castle in Adana Province of Turkey. It is known in Armenian as Levonkla (Լևոնկլա "Levon's fortress") after its possible founder—King Leo (Levon) I the Magnificent (r. 1198/9–1219) of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Medieval Armenian names attached to the site are Kovara and Vaner.
A hill castle, Yılankale is located on a rocky hill overlooking the east bank of the Ceyhan River, and the Bronze and Iron Age site of Sirkeli Höyük, six kilometers west of the town of Ceyhan. The building is locally known as the home of Shahmaran, a mythical creature half woman and half snake.