PHASELIS
Near Tekirova, a forest road leads to the ruins of Phaselis,
scattered on a peninsula surrounded by three natural harbors and
sandy beaches.
This ancient city, located at the border of Lycia and Pamphilya, was
founded by colonists from Rhodes Island in 690 BC. Overrun by the
Persians, in the 5C BC Phaselis freed and later even became
independent from Lycia, forming an alliance with Mausolus, the
satrap of Caria, in the 4C BC. Phaselis was the most important port
city in the region until the foundation of Attalaia (Antalya) in the
2C BC. The inhabitants minted coins showing the bow of a ship on one
side and the stern on the other. In the winter of 333-334 BC, during
his campain against the Persians, Alexander the Great spent some
time in Phaselis, whose population had submited at once to his
authority, before he advanced to Central Anatolia. After Alexander's
death, the city remained in the Ptolemies' hands from 209 till 197
BC, then in the Seleucids' hands before it was handed over in 190 BC
to the Kingdom of Rhodes together with the other cities of Lycia.
From 167 BC, Phaselis became part of the Lycian League under Roman
rule. But in the 1C BC, like Olympos, Phaselis was under the
constant threat of the Cilician pirates who even took the place for
a period and set it on fire when they were defeated by Rome to which
the city was linked in 42 BC. In the 2C AD, for the purpose of
Emperor Hadrian's visit, Phaselis was adorned with new statues,
monuments and buildings, and most of the remains which can be seen
today, date back from this period. In the Byzantine times, the city
became a bishopric. Suffering again from pirates and Arab raids, the
harbours began to lose importance and the city fell in complete
decay. In the 12th century, when the Seljuks settled in the region,
they prefered to concentrate in Alanya and Antalya, and Phaselis
fell into oblivion.
Phaselis was home to the tragic author and poet Theodectes who was
the pupil of Socrates and Aristotles.
On the west side of the main street are:
The Bath which was part of the bath-gymnasium complex.
Hadrian's Agora, almost square-shaped, lies south of the bath
and was lined by porticoes and shops. The side of the agora looking
onto the main street was decorated with statues and a fountain.
Domitian's Agora lies along the second section of the main
street. An inscription written in honor of the emperor was found
above one of the two gates that faced the street. At the far end is
a late period agora connected with the south harbour.
The Monumental Gate of Hadrian bears an inscription in honor
of this emperor. Located at the end of the main street, the gate
opens onto a beautiful sea and mountain scenery.
One the east side of
the main street are:
The Bath (late period 3-4th century) whose brick foundations
which provided heat, can still be seen. A little further, lining the
main street, are the Public Toilet which were covered with
mosaics.
The Roman Theatre, located above the bath, replaced an
earlier Hellenistic theatre and had a seating capacity of 1,500 -
2,000 spectators. It overlooks the city and the sea.
The Acropolis, covered with a thick vegetation, is located
above the theatre. According to ancient writers, here stood the
Temple of Athena where Achilles' broken spear was exhibited, and
which is said to be the first place Alexander the Great visited upon
his arrival in the city. However the temple has not been yet
localized. Other temples, a palace and official buildings were also
built on this site.
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