Sightseeing: Side

Side, one of the best known classical sites in Turkey, was an ancient harbour whose name meant pomegranate. Today a pretty resort town, its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches, many shops and extensive tourist accommodation attract throngs of visitors. There are numerous cafes and restaurants with a view of the sea, and the shops that line the narrow streets sell typical Turkish handicrafts including leather goods and Turkey's famous beautiful gold jewellery.

Greek colonists from Aeolia founded the splendid city of Side in the seventh century B.C. and built a great seaport. A few decades ago Side was a peaceful fishing village but it has become a town of hotels, pensions and restaurants and its two thousand inhabitants live on and for tourism.

Side was the most important port in Pamphylia, the Mediterranean region whose name meant Land Of All Tribes. Side itself was named after the pomegranate, a symbol of fertility in ancient Anatolian culture. Side was for centuries a magnet for people forced to leave their native land due to natural sdisaster or war. As you approach Side ruins appear in every direction: walls, aqueducts, agora, baths, theatre, temples, nymphion and tombs. The wave of tourism which began in the 1960 with local people renting rooms to visitors is today one of tidal proportions, carrying the resort into an unknown future.

The modern history of Side begins in the late 19th century when Turkish migrants from the town of Khania in Crete arrived. They established the village of Selimiye amongst the ruins. Balancing the interests of tourism and conservation is today the most urgent question facing Side if this fascinating and unique place is to preserve the character which attracts people here. Ancient writers tell us that successive streams of migrants forgot their own languages after settling in Side. Although nor did they learn the language of the original inhabitants, who spoke an ancient Anatolian language. In 547 - 546 B.C. when side was under Lycian rule, the region was invaded by the Persians. Two centuries later, in 334 BC, Alexander the Great arrived and Side surrendered without a fight. Alexander set up his mint here. After the death of Alexander Side was ruled successively by the Ptolemations and Seleucids, later winning independence which continued after Pamphylia became part of the kingdom of Pergamum in 188 BC. As well as being a wealthy sea port, Side was a centre of culture and scholarship. In 78 BC it became part of the Roman Empire, although retaining an extensive degree of self-government. During this period it added the slave trade to its already considerable sources of wealth. In the second half of the 3rd century attacks on Pamphlyia by the mountain peoples to the north weekend the city's economy and new walls were built to protect against these incursions. Side is also famous as being the place where Anthony and Cleopatra met clandestinely for romantic assignations prior to their marriage. Under the Byzantines Side enjoyed final burst of prosperity before the combination of earthquakes, piracy and Arab incursions eventually caused the city to be entirely abandoned in the 10th century. According to the Arab geographer Idrisi writing in 1150, the people of Side migrated westwards to New Antalya.

The theatre at Side was one of the largest in Pamphylia, holding fifteen thousand spectators. It was built by the Romans in the third century AD. It was later reinforced by the Romans, able engineers, with strong arch structures. It h as a capacity of 15 000 seats. The audience section is divided in half by means of a diazoma. Orchestra in a semi-circle curve. Stage building is two or three storey. Late Empire Period gladiator fights and animal fights were made here. In A.D. 5-6 th centuries during Byzantine Period it was used as an open air church. The theatre is dated from middle of A.D. 2 nd century. The Apollo Temple is located within Byzantine Basilica together with the Athena Temple. In Corinthian style and peripteros design. From Roman period. Dates from A.D. 150's. A section was restored in 1983-1990 and recovered.

The museum is small but interesting, and has been installed amongst the ruins of the Roman Baths. It houses a collection of statues, friezes and sarcophagi found during excavations. Outside the Hellenistic walls are the ruins of a Byzantine basilica that had three naves, a baptistery and the Bishop’s palace. There were two agoras at Side, one of which was called the State Agora and used for meetings and public ceremonies.