Side
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:''This page is about the town Side on the Mediterranean coast of [[Turkey]]. For other uses of "Side", see [[Side (disambiguation)]].''
'''Side''' ({{IPAEng|ˈsiːdǝ}}) is one of the best-known classical sites in [[Turkey]], and was an ancient harbour whose name meant pomegranate. Side is a resort town on the southern coast of [[Turkey]], near the villages of [[Manavgat]] and [[Selimiye (Antalya)|Selimiye]], 75 km from [[Antalya]]) in the [[Antalya Province|province of Antalya]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ancientlibrary.com/gazetteer/0319.html
|title=The Ancient Library
|publisher=
|accessdate=2006-11-19
}}</ref> It is located on the eastern part of the [[Pamphylia|Pamphylian]] coast, which lies about 20 km east of the mouth of the [[Eurymedon River]].
[[Image:Side.Great Gate(02).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Great Gate]]
[[Image:Side-pomegranate.gif|thumb|left|300px|Ancient Side]]
[[Image:Side Theatre.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Theater]]
Settlers from [[Cyme]] (Cumæans) in [[Aeolis]], an ancient region of northwestern [[Asia Minor]], founded the city in the [[seventh century BC]]. Possessing a good harbor for small-craft boats, Side's natural geography made it the most important place in [[Pamphylia]] – the region in the south of Asia Minor between [[Lycia]] and [[Cilicia]], from the [[Mediterranean]] to [[Mount Taurus]]. This location made Side one of the most important trade centers in its time. Today, as in yesteryear, the ancient city of Side is situated on a small north-south [[peninsula]] about 1 km long and 400 [[meters|m]] across.
==History==
[[Strabo]] and [[Arrian]]os both record that Side was settled from [[Cyme (Aeolis)]], city in Aeolia, a region of western [[Anatolia]]. Most probably, this colonization occurred in the seventh century B.C.. According to [[Arrian]]os, when settlers from Kyme came to Side, they could not understand the dialect. After a short while, the influence of this indigenous tongue was so great that the newcomers forgot their native Greek and started using the language of Side. Excavations have revealed several inscriptions written in this language. The inscriptions, dating from the third and second centuries B.C., remain undeciphered, but testify that the local language was still use several centuries after colonization. Another object found in Side excavations, a basalt column base from the seventh century B.C. and attributable to the [[Neo-Hittite]]s, provides other evidence of the site's early history. The word "side" is Anatolian in origin and means [[pomegranate]].
Next to no information exists concerning Side under [[Lydia]] and [[Persian Empire]] sovereignty. Nevertheless, the fact that Side minted its own coins during the [[547 BC]] while under Persian dominion, shows that it still possessed a great measure of independence.
===Alexander the Great===
[[Image:Side antalya.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Side Museum]]
[[Alexander the Great]] occupied Side without a struggle in [[333 BC]]. Alexander left only a single garrison behind to occupy the city. This occupation, in turn, introduced the people of Side to [[Hellenistic]] culture of the Greek Civilization, which flourished from the [[fourth century BC|fourth century]] to the [[first century BC]]. After Alexander's death, Side fell under the control of one of Alexander's generals, [[Ptolemy I Soter]], who declared himself king of [[Egypt]] in [[305 BC]]. The [[Ptolemaic dynasty]] controlled Side until it was captured by the [[Seleucid Empire]] in the [[second century BC]]. Yet, despite these occupations, in the following years of the second century BC, Side managed to preserve some autonomy, grew prosperous, and became an important cultural center.
In [[190 BC]] a fleet from the Greek island [[city-state]] of [[Rhodes]], supported by [[Roman Empire|Rome]] and [[Pergamon|Pergamum]], defeated the Seleucid King [[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus the Great]]'s fleet, which was under the command of the fugitive [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] general, [[Hannibal]]. The defeat of Hannibal and Antiochus the Great meant that Side freed itself from the overlordship of the [[Seleucid Empire]]. The embarrassing [[Treaty of Apamea]] (188 BC) forced Antiochus the Great to abandon all European territories and to cede all of Asia Minor north of the Taurus Mountains to [[Pergamum]]. However, the dominion of Pergamum only reached ''de facto'' as far as [[Perga]], leaving Eastern [[Pamphylia]] semi-free. This led [[Attalus II Philadelphus]] to construct a new harbour in the city [[Attalia]] (the present Antalya), even though Side already had an important harbour. Between 188 and 36 BC Side minted their own money, [[tetradrachm]]s showing [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] and a laurel wreath (the sign of victory).
In the [[first century BC]], Side reached a peak when the Cilician [[pirate]]s established their chief naval base and a [[Slavery|slave-trade]] center.
===Romans===
[[Image:Side.Apollo(4).jpg|thumb|right|400px|Temple of Apollo]]
The consul [[Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus (consul 79 BCE)|Servilius Vatia]] defeated these brigands in 78 BC and later the
Roman general [[Pompey]] in [[67 BC]], bringing Side under the control of the Roman Empire. Side's second peak period started around 2C BC when it established and maintained a good working relationship with the Roman Empire.<ref name="turk">{{cite web
|url=http://www.turkishodyssey.com/places/medit/medit3.htm
|title=Side - History of the City
|publisher=
|accessdate=2006-11-19
}}</ref>
Emperor [[Augustus]] reformed the state administration and placed Pamphylia and Side in the Roman province of [[Galatia]] in [[25 BC]], after the short reign by the king [[Amyntas of Galatia]] between 36 and 25 BC. Side began another prosperous period as a commercial center in [[Asia Minor]] through its trade in olive oil. Its population grew to 60,000 inhabitants. This period would last well into the third century AD. Side established itself as a slave-trading center in the [[Mediterranean]]. Its large commercial fleet engaged in acts of piracy. Wealthy merchants paid for such tributes as public works, monuments, and competitions as well as the games and gladiator fights. The significance of this period for Side is evident in its ruins today. Most of the present-day ruins found in Side date from this period of prosperity.
<br clear=left />
==Decline==
Side began to steady decline from the [[fourth century]] on. Even defensive walls could not stop successive invasions from highlanders from the Taurus Mountains. During the [[fifth century|fifth]] and [[sixth century|sixth]] centuries, Side experienced a revival and became the seat of the Bishopric of Eastern Pamphylia. Arab fleets, nevertheless, raided and burned Side during the [[seventh century]], contributing to its steady decline. The combination of earthquakes, Christian zealots and Arab raids, left the site completely abandoned by the 10th century. <ref name="turk"/> Its citizens had emigrated to nearby Antalya.
In the [[twelfth century]], Side temporarily established itself once more as a large city. An inscription found on the site of the former ancient city shows a considerable [[Jewish]] population in early [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] times. However, Side was abandoned again after being sacked. Its population moved to [[Antalya]] and Side became known as ''Eski Adalia'' or Old Antalya and was buried.
==Historical Maps==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Antalya side manavgat piri.jpg|thumb|leftt|100px|Piri Reis Map ]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Antalya side manavgat google2.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Google Earth]]]] -->[[Image:Antalya by Piri Reis.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]One of the maps (portolani) [[Piri Reis]], taken from the Kitab-i Bahriye, Piri produced in several editions, supplementing in 1520, but integrating it into subsequent editions.
==Ruins==
[[Image:Side.Great Gate(03).jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Megale Pyle'' (the [[Hellenistic]] Great Gate), dating from the 2nd century BC]]
The great ruins are among the most notable in Asia Minor. They cover a large promontory where a wall and a moat separate it from the mainland. During medieval times, the wall and moat were repaired and the promontory houses a wealth of structures.
There are colossal ruins of a theater complex, the largest of Pamphylia, built much like a Roman [[amphitheater]] that relies on arches to support the sheer verticals. The Roman style was adopted because Side lacked a convenient hillside that could be hollowed out as in the usual Greek fashion more typical of Asia Minor. The theater is less well preserved than the [[Aspendos]] theater, but it is almost as large, seating 15,000 - 20,000 people. With time and the shifting of the earth, the ''scena'' wall has collapsed over the stage and the ''proscenium'' is in a cataract of loose blocks. It was converted into an open-air sanctury with two chapels during [[Byzantine]] times (5-6th c.)
The well preserved city walls provide an entrance to the site through the Hellenistic main gate (''Megale Pyle'') of the ancient city, although this gate from the second century BC is badly damaged. Next comes the colonnaded street although the marble columns once there do not exist anymore. All that remains is a few broken stubs near the old Roman baths. The street leads to the a public bath, restored as a museum displaying Roman period statues and sarcophagi. Next is the square [[agora]]
with in the middle the remains of the round [[Tyche]] and [[Fortuna]] temple (2nd c. BC), a periptery with twelve columns. In later times it was used as a trading center where pirates sold slaves. The current remains of the theatre, which was used for gladiator fights and later as a church, and the monumental gate date back to the 2nd century. The early Roman Temple of [[Dionysus]] is near the theater. The fountain gracing the entrance is restored. At the left side are the remains of a Byzantine Basilica. A public bath has been restored<ref name="turk"/>
The remaining ruins of Side include three temples, an aqueduct, and a [[nymphaeum]]. Side's nymphaeum – a grotto with a natural water supply dedicated to the nymphs – was an artificial grotto or fountain building of elaborate design.
Turkish archaeologists have been excavating Side since 1947 and intermittently continue to do so.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.adiyamanli.org/aspendos.html
|title=Aspendos - Perge - Side
|publisher=
|accessdate=2006-11-19
}}</ref>
==Today==
[[Image:Se7.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Total Solar eclipse|Solar Eclipse in Side on March 29, 2006]]
[[Image:Antalya side manavgat google today.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Today's Side]]
In [[1895]] Greek Muslim refugees from [[Crete]] moved to the ruined town and called it Selimiye. Today Side has become a popular vacation destination and experiences a new revival.
It was a favorite spot for watching the [[Solar eclipse of 2006 March 29|solar eclipse of March 29, 2006]].
Due to previously being the seat of the Bishopric of Eastern Pamphylia it is still a [[titular see]] of the [[Roman Catholic church]].
{{Commons|Side (Turkey)}}
== See also ==
*[[Manavgat Waterfall]]
*[[Oymapinar Dam]]
*[[Philip of Side]]
*[[Sidetic language]]
*[[Saint Probus of Side]]
*[[Coinage of Side]]
==Notes==
<references/>
==External links==
*[http://e-turkey.net/v/antalya_side/ Side photos with explanations]
*[http://www.pointsfromturkey.com/side.html Side Pictures]
*[http://www.ancientlibrary.com/gazetteer/0319.html Hazlitt, Classical Gazetteer, "Side"]
*[http://www.amerasianworld.com/antalya.php Pictures of Side Greek Ruins]
{{1911}}
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[[Category:Settlements established in the 7th century BC]]
[[Category:Alexander the Great]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek sites in Turkey]]
[[Category:Aeolian colonies]]
[[Category:Pamphylia]]
[[Category:Turkish Riviera]]
[[Category:Antalya|Side]]
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