Search the new site:


Side 285 pictures 10.45 hours HQ video According to Strabo, Side was first settled in the 7^th century B.C. At that time the language in Side was a distinct form of the Anatolian language. In Sidetan, the word "Side" meant "the pomegranate that symbolizes the fruitfulness". Greek became the official language in Side after its conquest by Alexander the Great. The Greek settlers immediately gave considerable impetus to the city's development. Side was an excellent port and trade flourished. Not only did the city prosper with piracy - widely diffused at the time - but also with its slave trade; its female slaves were renewed for their beauty even in Syria. Later Side was under Ptolemaic and then under Seleucid domination during the 3^rd century B.C. In the 2^nd and 1^st century B.C. Side enjoyed its first period of prosperity. Owing to its friendship with Rome, it became the capital city of the state. The most magnificent of the city buildings were erected during this phase of the Roman Era. The depravation of the Arabs during the IX century put an end to Side, and it gradually dwindled in importance before being completely abandoned. It was rebuilt during this century with another name: Selmiye. Despite several earthquakes, Side has preserved the majority of its buildings. Temple of Apollo Inscriptions, coins and other evidence, suggest that the two almost identical structures were temples to Apollon and Athena, protectors of the port and shipping. They can be dated to the latter part of the 2^nd century A.D. Both were of Corinthian type with surrounding columns (peripeteral), six in the front and the back, and eleven on the sides. Both had a front chamber (pronaos) and a main chamber. They are the largest temples found in Side, and presumably its most imposing ones, commanding the site at the harbor. The slightly smaller southern temple, whose ruins have been preserved, was decorated with a frieze of Medusa heads. In late centuries, when the temples had been partially destroyed, the outer walls of a vast Byzantine basilica were constructed around them on two sides. Agora The agora was built in the 2^nd century A.D. This huge structure is measuring 90 x 94 meters. In the middle of the agora there is a circular temple, which was dedicated to the goddess Fortuna or Tyche. The courtyard surrounded by colonnades containing shops, is now represented only by its foundations. There is a big market-place, which was the center of all kinds of commercial and cultural activities. According to Strabo, Side was a flourishing slave market. Theater The theater was built in the 2^nd century A.D. upon the original Hellenistic theater. The lower cavea and its 29 steps lean against a natural slope, while the upper cavea and 29 steps entirely rest on archways built up on elephant feet. From the outside it can be seen that on the lower floor of those two-storey arches the Diazoma has five entrances with 14 shops between them. On both ends of the gallery is a parades serving as entry doors. Access to the upper floor is by means of a staircase built inside the arches of the inner gallery. In the 3^rd and 4^th centuries A.D. changes were made to the orchestra to enable gladiatorial fights and water games to take place. The skene is a three-storey building rising up from the podium, of which the reliefs are badly damaged. Pieces removed from the skene to be displayed in the agora show the building to have been richly decorated. The chapel built in the Byzantine Era west of the orchestra was used as an open air temple. Govrement Agora Built in the 2^nd century, its length is 88.5 meters and its width 69.2 meters. It is surrounded by a porticoed courtyard 7 meters wide and 3 other areas. The U-shaped area was the Emperor's hall. The central platform was used for crucifixions, and there was a library. There were no shops here. Bishop's Palace and Basilica These two buildings, located on the street leading south, were built during Side's last bright period after it was chosen as the Bishop's center in the 5^th or 6^th century. The complex is 160 meters long and 117 meters wide. The palace was built in different parts joined by arches. There are two open cisterns in this area. These buildings, including the Bishop's private chapel and accommodation plus garden took up an area of 9700 sq meters. The Walls The city was built within the city walls of the mainland, the sea and the inland city walls being 6 km. They were built in the Hellenistic period. Nymphaeum The fountain in the city wall, outside the memorial gate, was built in the 2^nd century B.C. It consists of three semi-circular parts, carved into the wall. Directly in front is a pool, surrounded by a wall. We can reach the area in front of the pool, by three separate sets of steps. There are stone benches here, which are still used for relaxing. In front there are three store columns which are decorated with medusa heads and fish. On the ceiling there are leaf designs and carved dolphins. Because there is no water source at the fountain, the water was carried by lead pipes to the fountain. The Side nymphaeum is the most outstanding fountain in the whole Anatolian region, and a close copy was made in Italy by Septimus Severus. Colonnaded Street The Colonnaded street was constructed over an existing street of the Hellenistic period, in the 2^nd century B.C. On the two sides of the street there are Corinth style galleries (porticos). The galleries, whose grounds were earth during the Roman period, were covered with mosaics in the 5^th century A.D by Teodoros, an official responsible for prosperity affairs and most probably called the 'father of the city'. Behind the galleries there are the shops and behind them the residential units are located. The roads perpendicular to the colonnaded street lead down to the Megalopylits district. Agora Bath (Museum) The Agora Bath is a square building with the dimensions of 26.20 x 41.50 meters. Fountain and Pools The structure, dating from the middle of the third century A.D., consists of four aedicules in the Corinthian style with triangular pediments and three pools below them. The water supply came from a cistern behind, Statues of Hermes, Aphrodite and others (second century Roman copies) stood in the aedicules and are now in the museum. Consoled House Separated from the colonnaded street by shops and entered from a back street, this house contained two interior courts (atria) with mosaic floors, from which entrances led to surrounding rooms. Stone consoles, or ornamented corbels, which were discovered in excavation, show that the house contained an upper story with balconies over the interior courts. It was continually occupied from Hellenistic to Byzantine times. Basilica of Harbor Back to Turkey Index