Meet one of the old and important cities in terms of trade. Side is an ancient greek city located on the southern Midditeranean coast of Turkey. Possessing a good harbour for small craft boats made Side one of the most important trade centers in the region. Strabon who is a ancient age geographer, claims that Cymes who migrated from eagen sea found Side. According to Arrian who was a greek historian, public servant, military commander and philosopher of the Roman period, when settlers came to Side, they couldn’t understand the dialect. After a short while, newcomers forgot their native Greek and started to use the indigenous language of Side. Excavations have revealed several inscriptions written in this language. The name Side leans on Anatolian origin, meaning pomegranate. Hesychius also mentioned about Side in his book as Pomegranates Country. Another object found in excavations of Side was a Basal column base dated back 7th. Century BC. which is attributable to the history of Side lies Hittites. However, there are sayings that Sides foundation is before 7th. Century which is one of the oldest settlements in Anatolia. The city was held by many nations such as Lydians, Persians, Alexander the Great, Hellenic Kingdoms and Romans. There are no any information from the period during Persians and Lydians were ruling the city. Although, Side had strong city walls both on the land and the sea side, the city was surrended to the Alexander the Great. After his death, Side was under rule of Selecuid and Ptolemaic for a long time. The city was witnessed a great Sea war. This war was between Rodos fleet that Pergamum and Romans were supporting and fleet of Syrian King III. Antiochos which ended up Rodos fleets victory. After that, the city was developed and became a center of science, amusement and trade. In the BC. first century, Side was conquered by Cilicia pirates and became a Servant market. Local people shut their eye’s to this since they also have profit out of this even though they didn’t like it. Stratonicus who is famous with his diatribes answered the question, “ Who is the most betrayel and bad people?” as, “Phaselises in Phamphylia. However, people from Side in the World.”. Famous Roman Emperor Pompey ended the supremacy of the Pirates. When the city was under the commande of Romans, it became a center of trade in the region. Especially the Slavery trade was predominated. According to the documents, Roman Empire sent slaves from Africa to Side. Before it was joined to Turkey, Seljukians and Ottoman Empire ruled the city. However, there are no remainings related with those empires since they didn’t use the region to live. Because they left city after Arabic fleets bombed and strongly destroyed the city.
Nowadays, new settlements are also exist around the entrance of the ancient city. However, ancient remainings are still well-protected. Therefore, you can assume that you are entering the ancient city when you start to see ancient buildings together with modern architecture.
Main Gate
There are 2 entrance to the city which are on the eastern fort. Büyük kapı which was build in Hellenistic Period is the monumental gate of the city located in the Northern East of the city. There is a yard located after gate and it lies through the coast as a line.
Vespian Fountain
The Vespasian monument got its current name because of the inscription placed on its architrave. This inscription informs that the monument was erected in honor of Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus. This monument was built an brought here from another place of the city and it became a water fountain.( It consists of a central, semi-oval niche and to aediculae (the niches that served as small shrines) placed on its sides. In the central niche once the statue of Emperor Vespasian stood, and the left and right aediculae were decorated with the statues of female figures. The aediculae had two columns at the front and two half-columns at the rear The columns were made in the Corinthian order.
The left-side aedicula of the monument is in much better state of preservation. All niches were topped with triangular pediments and the central pediment was decorated with the head of Medusa. The Vespasian monument played not only decorative and religious function, but also served as a fountain. Terracotta pipes brought water to this structure from the main aqueduct of the city.)
Side Museum
Museum is located just nex to the Monumental gate. Museum was used to be the Turkish bath a.k.a. that belongs to the Agora which is in front of the Agora from Roman Period. Turkish bath was an Byzantion structure consist of 5 rooms. In the museum, remainings and historical artificats from Roman, Hellenistic and Byzanthion Period are exhibited. One of the most attractive historical artifacts is the mythological friezes of the god of the sea Poseidon.
You can find the best protected and decoreted latrium example in Anatolia in between the Agora and the Side Ancient Theatre. In the structure, there is fresh water coming out from one canal and the dirty water from this Latrium with 24 toilet capacity is pouring to the canalization.
Side Agora
In the middle of the Agora, there is a circular temple which is dedicated to Tyche who is the god of luck. Originally this temple was surrounded by 12 columns. However, only remaining from the temple is the podium. This Agora is connected to second Agora which is the State Agora.
State Agora
It was built in 2th. Centruy and there are 18 Ion column style porticos in the Agora. This place was used to be the control center of the ancient city. It has a square shaped style. It is believed that the high platform was used for the slavery trades and shows. Apart from Nemesis statue, all of the statues were brought to the museum. They left the Nemesis statue in the Agora to show the original decoration style.
Side Ancient Theatre
Theatre was built in the 2nd century A.D. onto the Hellenistic bases. In terms of its structure and plan, Side ancient theatre is the only example in Anatolia. Since Side is located on a flat level, they were able to made it not more than 20 meters high. It can be count 29 seats under the diazoma which divides cavea into 2 parts. On the other part, 22 of 29 seats are still existing. It is the biggest theatre in Pamphylia with the 16-17 thousand capacity. In the late Roman time, orchestra was surrounded by fences for Gladiator fights and wild animal challenges. Theatre was used as open-air church in 5th and 6th century AD.
Side Apollon Temple
Apollon temple was one of the temple that was built in the Roman Period. This temple represents the God of light, beauty and the art who is Apollo. Apollon is also a prognosticator and he can transfer this ability to the others such as Kassandra. He is the son of Zeus and Leto and twins with Artemis. Also he is the only god that called with his original name in Roman mythology. He plays a golden lyra. He can throw the arrow to the longest place with his Silver Arch. He is the god of Arrows. He taught the Medicine to the people which makes him the god of Medicine. He never lies, he is the god of light and truth. Just like the beams of the sun, Apollons arrows also heal or make people sick. Even though he was identified with the sun, he was not the god of Sun when he appeared for the first time. The real greek god of Sun is Helios. Afterwards, Artemis and Apollon was identified with the moon and the Sun.
Aspendos Bridge
Aspendos bridge was built in Roman Period in AD. 4th century. The bridge that was built in roman period was partly ruined and seljukians renovated the bridge in 13th cetury AD which means that the bridge standing today is belongs to Seljukians. There are rumors that the bridge was so high that the ships could even pass through underneath it before seljukians renovated. This is the only bridge on the rivers in the region and there is even an open market on it. Therefore, the river is called as Köprüpazar çayı which means bridgemarket river. Evliya çelebi mentioned with this name.While it was renovating by Seljukians they also used some stones from Aspendos ancient city.
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