Aspendos in Turkey
Aspendos -This is an ancient Greco-Roman city, founded in the 5th century BC. The place of the former city is located 7 km from the Central District of the town of Serik near Antalya and very close to the popular resort Belyk.
The legend says that it was founded by the soothsayer of the pug, or polypet, immediately after the Trojan War. At that time, there was a need to protect residents from raids from the sea, so the city was attributed from the shore of 16 km. At different times, Aspendos (sometimes called Aspendus) was part of Lycia, Persians, and the Athenian Marine Union. In 333 BC The city was won by Alexander Macedon. Then they owned Salevkids, Pergames, and in 190 BC Aspendos captured the Romans.
It was as part of the Roman Empire that Aspendos reached the highest heyday in its history and became one of the three largest cities in Pamphilia. This was facilitated by a convenient location and a favorable climate. On the banks of the Evimedon River, a port was built, numerous gardens and vineyards were broken in the vicinity of the city. Aspendos in Antalya turned into a real shopping center of its time. Here they sold grain, jewelry, wine, and local horses were considered the best in the world. Silver coins of their own minting even went in the city.
However, during the Byzantine Empire, Aspendos fell into decay, having survived many Arab raids. In the XII century, the city was captured by the Seljuks and soon ceased to exist.
Ampendos amphitheater
The main attraction of the Aspendos – This is an ancient amphitheater, which is quite well preserved. It has 39 semicircular rows. The capacity of the amphitheater is about 7,000 spectators. It is known that he was built in 155, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, a local native of the architect Zenon. In the Roman era, the theater was beautifully decorated with marble and decorated with embossed patterns and sculptures.
In the XIII century, the Seljuki rebuilt his scene under the palace. But the theater retained its function. His upper scene was arranged in such a way as to protect the audience from the external environment. Part of the theater adjoined the citadel (acropolis) and had vaulted ceilings. The backs have reached our time, but the roof has not survived.
The amphitheater was discovered only in 1871, and in one of the most striking historical beauties of the Anatolian peninsula, the construction turned after a large-scale reconstruction in the 1950s.
Nowadays, the Aspedos Theater has long been used for various events – concerts, festivals. However, the building began to collapse from modern equipment, so the Turkish authorities abandoned this practice. Near the ancient amphitheater, the Aspendos Arena was built, where mass spectacles were transferred.
What else to see in Aspends
In addition to the amphitheater, in the Aspedos area you can see the ruins of the ancient basilica, nymph, Agora. 15 km of the Roman aqueduct (located 1 km from the amphitheater) and the Evimedont bridge were also preserved.
How to get
You can get to the Aspendos from Antalya by taxi (about 150 Turkish lire) or on a regular bus (about 30 lire). From the bus you will have to go on the highway at a bend to the city, and then walk another 4 km.
