Aspendos
Aspendos Theatre
Aspendos is located in the Pamphylian
plain at 47 km east of Antalya near the village of Belkis. In ancient
times Aspendos was a river port city that,
according to legend, was founded by colonists from Argos when they
returned from the Trojan war. More probably its roots were Phoenician or
Hittie. Like many other cities in the fertile plain of Pamphylia, Aspendos fell under the sovereignty of the Lydians
and Persians. The city first came to prominence in 479 BC when the Persian
navy was destroyed by the Greeks, under the command of Cimon, in a bloody
naval battle at the mouth of the nearby Eurymedon River (present
Köprüçay
meaning Bridge River). Afterwards, the fighting
continued on land once again, though significantly outnumbered, the Greeks
defeated the Persians. After
passing into and out of Greek and Persian hands,
Aspendos submitted to Alexander the Great ca. 333 B.C.
After Alexander's death it became part of the Seleucid kingdom (Syria.
Later, the city became part of the kingdom of Pergamon (Bergama) and eventually was
ruled by the Romans for a long period. Aspendos had its most prosperous period
in the 2nd and 3rd century AD. From ancient source we learn that silver
and gold embroidered tapestries, ornaments and furniture made from lemon tree
wood, wine and horses were exported. During the first and second
centuries AD significant building activities took place.
Presently, Aspendos is famous for its impressive
Roman theatre, the best preserved in Asia Minor.
The theatre was constructed in the 2nd
century AD by the architect Zeno during the reign of the Roman Emperor
Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD). The theatre could accommodate 10,000 - 12,000
spectators and was maintained by the Byzantines and Seljuks. After Atatürk
visited Aspendos he commanded the restoration of the theatre.
Presently, it is the stage of the Aspendos Opera and
Ballet Festival from mid-June to early July. Next to the theatre, a
path leads up to the acropolis with a nymphaeum and basilica.
Click on the thumbnails to get a greater picture
