It is assumed that the archeological site located 2 km to the southeast of Mezitli District, which is 11 km to the southwest of Mersin Province, was founded in the 8th or 7th century BC. In the first millennium BC, it was an essential port. It preserved its status as an important center during the Persian rule in Anatolia until the arrival of Alexander the Great. In the 5th century BC, it minted coins in its own name. Soli, which became a diocese with the introduction of Christinity, was destroyed in an earthquake in the 6th century, and suffered from Arab invasions in the 7th century. Structures like the ancient theatre, the temple, the columnar street, and public bath remained intact. Excavations carried out in recent years revealed that the necropolis areas that cannot be observed on the surface today were scattered around the city center. The name of the city, “Soloi” in Greek and “Soli” in Latin, literally means “Sun”, and it is also known as “Pompeiopolis” – the city consecrated to Pompeius.