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Termessos 162 pictures 8.15 minutes HQ video Termessos is located on a natural plateau flanked by two mountains at 1050 meters above sea level; it is one of the best preserved archaeological sites in Turkey and the only town that Alexander the Great never managed to conquer. Certain inscriptions lead us to believe that its townsmen were emigrants from Lycia, who thought this was an ideal place to build a town. Walled only on two sides, Termessos' best defence lies in the mountain and the steep valley below. Its natural impregnability is enhanced by its exceptional water supply, which is quite unique if you think of the place and conditions under which it was built: a series of five tanks (7m deep and at the most 11m wide) were fed by a duct cut into the rock. In 334 B.C., Alexander decided that it was too risky to tackle the town and passed on. During the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries B.C., Termessos was at the peak of its glory and boasted as many as 150,000 inhabitants: most of its buildings also date back to this period. Later on, it was severely damaged by an earthquake and gradually became less populated until it was completely deserted in the 7^th century A.D. View of the Mountains Theater A well preserved theater, with a seating capacity of 4,200. The theater, of Greek type, dates from the Hellenistic period. Greek type. It featured 27 rows of steps, with a cavea forming more than a semicircle, and originally open passages between it and the stage-building; of these the northern remains are in its original form, the southern has undergone later alteration. The stage-building consists simply of the stage and a long narrow room behind it. Heroon Temple of Hadrian Bouleuterion It is unusually well preserved, the walls standing over 10 meters high, but it is a good deal encumbered by vegetation, and the interior is largely filled with soil. The masonry is excellent and carefully dressed; it dates probably from the 1^stcentury B.C. Temple of Artemis This temple dates from the Roman period. Erected by Aurelia Armasta, this structure is well preserved, with a cella measuring 5.50 x 5.50 meters. Gymnasium Big structure over 90 meters long , there are 3 buildings with 20-22 rooms. Corinthian temple A small temple with a cella measuring 6.70 x 7.0 meters, dating from the Late Roman period. Agora Tombs An outstanding feature of Termessos' remains is the large number of tombs, all around the slopes to the east, west and south. Some are hewn out of the rocks while others are in the form of sarcophagi mounted on high pedestals. The latter, scattered among the bushes in the valley, date back to the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries B.C. Among the most important of these are the Lion's tomb on the southern slope, tall based and carrying a lintel richly carved with Medusa heads, allegorical masks and leaf motifs, and the tomb of Alketas, an important Macedonian who preferred suicide to turning himself over to the enemy. Back to Turkey Index