Side, Antalya

Side, which an Aeolis Region city, is established by Cymnians according to Strabon. Side means “pomegranate” as a word. Pomegranate motif is located on Side coins from B.C. 500 to Roman period. History of city dates back B.C. 7th Century. History of city dates back B.C. 7th Century. After Alexander the Great, city, which enters under rule of respectively Ptoleimaicos between B.C. 301-218 and then Seleucus, is ruled by Roman Empire. Side city has good relations with Roman Empire in B.C 2nd and 1st Centuries and develops very much. City lives its most prime period during A.D. 2nd and 3rd Centuries. After Roman Empire divides şnto two pieces in 395, Side city becomes poor and wall is constructed throught on the narrowest place of the peninsula in the middle of A.D. 4th Century and hal of city is abandoned. Side becomes a bishopric center in 5th and 6th Centuries. Walls, surrounding the city, belong to B.C. 2nd Century. Main Gate, located on the walls, has a good defense feature. Nymphaion, which is City Fountain, is located opposite this gate. Aqueduct is constructed at the end of A.D. 2nd Century and repaired at the beginning of 3rd Century. Two colonnaded street, opening to the city from main gate, is constructed in A.D. 2nd Century. Agora, surrounded with porches, belongs to A.D. 2nd Century. Temple of Tykhe, dated as A.D. 2nd Century, is located in the middle of Agora; a toilet building, having seat for 24 people, is located in the north of agora. Theatre of the city is constructed in A.D. 2nd Century and orchestra is surrpunded with a high guard rail in order to protect audiences from gladiator plays and wild animal fightings in Late Roman period. According to epigraphs, theatre is turned into an outdoor church in 5th and 6th Centuries. Baths near Agora are constructed in A.D. 5th Century. Restored baths serve as Side Museum today. A monumental entrance and three fountains were located between square in front of this bath and westtern side of agora. Monumental Gate provided the passage into the internal passage in Roman age. Temple of Dionysus, between theatre and colonnaded street, belongs to Roman period. Christianity basilica is protected partially and monumental baths near the port are constructed in A.D. 2nd Century. Temple of Apollo and Temple of Athens, dated as second half of A.D. 2nd Century, are constructed in the Corinthian order. One section of Temple of Apollo is restored and it is erected. Christian basilica, belonging to A.D. 5th Century, is constructed on the foundations of Apollo and Athens Temples, it is seen that a church is is constructed inside this basilica in 8th and 9th Century. Temple of Men, constructed in A.D. 3rd Century, Small Byzantine Church, belonging to 8th and 9th Century, and Byzantine basilica, belonging to 5th or 6th Centuries, are some of the other structure remains in Side. Substantial port of the ancient city remains under the modern Side and witnesses great destructions. Side is one of the leading holiday resorts today. Manavgat Waterfall in 5km. far from Side and also Seleukeia ancient city, in the vicinity of Şıhlar Village, bounded to Manavgat, are the places, which are required to be visited.

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