PERGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

On the site there are remains from three different eras: Greek, Hellenistic and Roman.

Before the entrance to the car park, on the left, the theatre, built by the Greeks, underwent several transformations by the Romans during the 2nd century AD. With a capacity of 15,000 spectators, it was also used for gladiatorial fights. The stage is decorated with representations of Eros and Dionysus. On the right, the 23-metre long stadium, really impressive, was designed to accommodate 15,000 people. Raised, it was supported on pillars forming arches that housed stores.

Before entering the fortified part of Perge, you will come across the tomb of Plancia Magna, a benefactress of the city, priestess at the temple of Artemis (whose statue you can admire in the museum of Antalya). After the Roman gate, on the right, ruins of a Byzantine basilica. On the right again, you can see the remains of a nymph with a conch-shaped bowl. Behind it, a monumental door led to the baths. Further on, the Hellenistic gate of the 3rd century BC encloses, between its two towers, a horseshoe-shaped square.

The agora of 75 m by 67 m had a tholos (circular construction with a religious function) in its centre and was flanked by porticoes that housed the shops. At the end is the nymphaeum (monumental fountain) in Corinthian style, in the shape of a horseshoe. The water gushed out and fell into a basin decorated with comedy masks.