Antalya Life | antalyalife.net » Ancient Cities

Perge

admin — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:17:34 +0000

The ancient city of Perge was founded on the alluvion plain formed bye the river Aksu(Kestros), about 15 km. from the sea. It is 18 km. far from Antalya. ın the ancient age, the river Aksu allowed the boats to come very close to Perge. The name of the city originates from “Parga” meaning “High” during the Luwian/Etruscan era. The most famous Pergean of ancient times is Apollonius who calculated the characteristics of an ellipse in geometry. It is known that the city was within the boundaries of the country Ahhiyawa as a very small settlement unit during the Hittite era. The population of the city, which was established on the south-eastern hillside of the acropolis during early periods increased with those who returned from the Trojan war, with the boundaries extending down to the flatlands. When Alexander the Great seized the city in 330 B.C., the Persian occupation ceased. The temples built in the name of Artemis, the chief goddess of the city that was included within the boundaries of the Roman Empire in the wake of the commotion which took place in the 1st century B.C., and her brother Apollonius, were converted into a church during the early times of Christianity, Artemis being identified with Virgin Mary and Apollonius with Jesus Christ.

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Xanthos

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:54:00 +0000

At the 5th km of the highway Kaş – Fethiye, the remains of the ancient city of Xanthos are visible upon a hill at a height of 100 m on the eastern bank of the creek Eşen flowing through the village Kınık. The name of the city is “Sindawana” in the Luwian/Etruscan language, meaning “the place of the mother goddess Sindan”. Subsequently, as a result of a phonetic change this name became Xanthos, meaning “yellow” in the Hellenic language. The city was set up by the Etruscans/Luwians. During the Lycian era it was named as Arnna for a while.

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Tlos / Saklıkent

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:50:22 +0000

The remains of the ancient city Tlos lie in the southern direction of the town Kemer, within the village Kale. The city was founded as an acropolis city with the name of Tlawa in the Luwian period. It commands a view over the roads in the valley of Xanthos. Tlos which became a metropolis and was adorned with various structures during the Roman era was inhabited until the 19th century.

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Selge

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:20:49 +0000

The remains of the Ancient City of Selge at an altitude of 1250 m on the Taurus Mountains are located within the settlement unit of Zerk Village / Altınkaya. The area, enjoying the beauties of a deep canyon, waterfalls and mountains between pine forests is an ideal site for photographers. It is thought that the name Selge was derived from “Salaga” meaning “deep valley” in the Luwian/Etruscan language. Moreover, according to the Gök Turk/Turquoise phonetic writing Selge means Usoluğu-Suoluğu (Water Gutter-Wisdom Gutter).

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Seleukeia

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:14:59 +0000

To the northwest of Manavgat are the remains of the ancient city of Seleukeia, situated within the Şıhlar settlement unit. The city is known to have been founded as a fortified acropolis town to be used as a final defence and protection site in the case of an attack on Side. Upon the capture of Side by pirates in the 2nd century B.C., a number of the people immigrated to Seleukeia. The bronze statue of Apollon understood to have been built during this era is on display in the Antalya Museum. During the Pax Romana period, on the other hand, acropolis cities eventually lost their former importance.

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Arykanda

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:39:09 +0000

It is an ancient city in ruins located to the west of Antalya and north of Finike, in close proximity to the Arif village. The remains of Arykanda, which are worth a visit, are half an hour’s walk away. It is known that the name of the city in the Luwian/Etruscan language was “Arukawanda/Aruwawanda” meaning “People having an Altar”. Arykanda, which was an acropolis city, was, after the hegemonies of Lycia, Persia, Macedonia, Ptolemaios, Seleucia and Rhodes, subordinated to Rome in 43 A.D. After a great earthquake during the Byzantine epoch the city moved to the area known as Ortaçay.

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Kaş / Antiphellos

admin — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:52:03 +0000

Kaş is a small fishing, yachting and tourist town, and a district of Antalya Province of Turkey, 168km west of the city of Antalya. As a tourist town it is relatively unspoiled.

Geography:
The town of Kaş is on a hill running down to the sea. The district has a typical Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters, which allows the growth of oranges, lemons and bananas. The lowland areas are also planted with cut flowers and a variety of fruits and vegetables, many are grown all year round under glass. The hillsides produce honey, and almonds, while at high altitudes there are extensive pine forests. The weather is drier at high altitudes. Although agriculture is still important tourism is the main source of income in the district, which has many hotels and guest houses.

About 2 km offshore from Kaş is the Greek island of Kastelórizo (in Turkish Meis Adásı).

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Termessos

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:13:16 +0000

22 km northwest of Antalya, south of the Antalya-Korkuteli motorway on the slope of the 1650 m high Güllük/Solymn mountain, at an altitude of 1050 m, lie the remains of the antique city of Termessos. The area was declared “Güllük/Termessos National Park and Protection Area” due to the best examples of its regional flora, flowers and maquis vegetation, and unique fauna, primarily wild goat. In the Luwi/Etruscan language the word “Terme”, included in the root of the name, means “Pass/Mountain Pass” and “Assa” means “High Fort”, and as such, it was named Termeassa, meaning “Fort City on the Mountain Pass”. The area was also called “Termila”, that is, “Terme Pass” which then became “Dirmil” through a different phonetic pronunciation in today’s Turkish.

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Sillyon

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:09:28 +0000

On the hill behind Asar Village, 22 km to the east of Antalya, lie the remains of the ancient city of Sillyon. It is understood that its name, in the original Luwian, used to be “Swilwana”, meaning “place with a beautiful pass”. Indeed, the place where the ancient city was located is the flatland, between the sea and the Taurus mountains, with the most striking natural beauty in the area. Sillyon, which was built as an acropolis city on top of Asar Hill by the Etruscan/Luwian clans in around 3000 B.C., experienced the same historical process as the other Pamphylian cities. Its population increased upon the participation of those returning from the Trojan War during the 12th century B.C. and it made its progress during the Pax Romana period and was adorned with a wide variety of buildings. It became the centre of Christianity, subordinated to Perge during the Byzantine epoch, and was set on fire and destroyed by the Arabs who reached to the southern shores of Anatolia during the 7th century A.D.

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Side / Selimiye

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:04:02 +0000

75 km along the Antalya-Alanya motorway one goes in a seaward direction for 3km to reach Selimiye. Selimiye, which is located upon a peninsula bearing the same name is situated on the ruins of the city of Side. The area is favoured by Turkish tourism with excellent holiday villages and hotels on the shores of Titreyengöl and Kumköy. Along with the sea, sand and sun tourists are offered cultural, hunting, natural, yachting, mountain, rafting, camp tourism and jeep-safari tours. According to Anatolian mythology, Side, Goddess of Nature and Fertility, taking her little daughter, goes to the valley of the river Manauwa/Manavgat together with the Nymphs.

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