Aspendos - Roman City near the Mediterranean Coast

http://www.alanyaseaport.com/en/39/13-aspendos

Aspendos is an ancient Roman city located near the Turkish Mediterranean coast about 35 km. east of Antalya. It features one of the best-preserved amphitheaters of antiquity, an acropolis and the remnants of a complex aqueduct system.

The acropolis - the highest part of the city - is located directly behind the amphitheater on a prominent hill. The ruins on the acropolis are close to the theater and can be accessed from the same parking lot on the path seen on the right side of the picture. 

http://fotopanorama360.com/aspendos/

The partially-excavated city complex is surrounded by agricultural fields. The view below looks toward the sea (south).

http://www.ritebook.in/2014/03/aspendos-roman-theater-turkey.html

The theater was built in 155 A.D. by a native of the city, the architect Zenon, during the rule of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Consistent with the earlier Hellenistic (Greek) practice, the back side of the theater was built into the hill.

http://www.theatrum.de/703.html

As one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in the ancient world, the Aspendos Theater has a diameter of 96 m. (380 feet), and provided seating for 15,000 people.

It was being refurbished when I was there in the Summer of 2014, and workers were installing a large roof over the perimeter of the structure. 

Compare the size of the workers walking on the new roof to the main structure - it is huge!

Cliff Emerson©

The sides of the amphitheater were built over vaulted arches. Post holes for 58 masts are found in the upper level of the theater. The masts supported a velarium (leather awning) that could be pulled over the top of the audience to provide shade.

Cliff Emerson©

The high stage served to isolate the audience from the rest of the population. The entire stone backdrop structure has remained intact. An 8-meter-wide wooden ceiling over the stage was used to reflect sound - it has been lost over time. In the 13th century, the Seljuks converted the stage building into a palace.

https://www.dothistour.com/attraction/424-aspendos

They repaired the theater from time to time, and also used it as a caravanserai - a place on a traveled path where the camels and caravan party members could stop overnight at a protective environment - and receive rest, water, and food. These are found throughout Turkey and parts of the Middle East. I will feature one in an upcoming post.

https://www.tripadvisor.com.tr/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g297963-d548067-i306099135-Aspendos_Ruins_and_Theater-Serik_Serik_District_Turkish_Mediterranean_Coa.html

Current Use of the Structure
Until recently, the ancient theater was used for concerts, festivals and other public events. Due to damage caused by theatrical and sound equipment, authorities decided to open a new, modern facility nearby and devote the amphitheater strictly to tourism. 

http://fotopanorama360.com/wp-content/uploads/aspendos-antik-tiyatro.jpg

Below, a carved Dionysus figure from a stone gable in the stage structure. 

http://www.theatrum.de/703.html

Above: Aspendos, römisches Theater, Mittelgiebel in der scaenae frons mit Darstellung des aus dem Akanthusbusch wachsenden Dionysos (Photo: G. Krämmer).

Aspendos roman theater, center gable of the scaenae frons with a representation of Dionysios in the midst of the growing Akanthus bush.

For me, Aspendos was a mystical place - an impression I obtained from viewing the aqueduct ruins with a backdrop of curiously-shaped mountains to the west and north - set in a misty environment.

The aqueduct system supplied water to the ancient roman city from spring sources in the neighboring mountains to the west - over a distance of 19 km. This is the best part of the visit. It would have been extremely enjoyable to investigate the entire length of the water channel route beyond the stretch where the aqueduct crossed the valley, but time wouldn't allow, nor did I have adequate documentation or a map.

According to historians, there were two sources of spring water: the Gökçepinar (pleasant spring) at 550 m. elevation, with a discharge of 30-40 liters/sec and the Pinarbas (springhead) at 440 m., with a discharge of 40 liters/sec.

cliff_emerson

Above, a section of the Aspendos Aqueduct, as it curves roughly 50-degrees toward the acropolis hill. The water in the aqueduct came out of the mountains in the background, went through a siphon device to in order to cross the valley, and turned at the height you can see in the picture. It then proceeded across this +100 meter section into the city on the acropolis. (see map, below.)

Also above, in the foreground, huge pieces of concrete from the Roman city have fallen down the hillside and remain lying there.

The path of the lower section of the aqueduct is marked in yellow as it crosses the valley. 

To me, this is the most intriguing part of the Aspendos site. 

I will go into the details of the aqueduct in soon. Click here to connect with another post that discusses the aqueduct system.

cliff_emerson

A village with a mosque and minaret is located next to the aqueduct, looking southwest. In the background, are a few of those strange, mystical hills.

History
Aspendos was an ancient city in the region of Pamphylia, situated on the Eurymedon River, about 16 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean Sea. It had a hostile relationship with a neighboring city, Side (LINK), on the Mediterranean coast.

During the Bronze Age, the Hittites called the city Asitawanda, a place where they traded horses. Like nearby Perge, Aspendos was probably established many years earlier in the Iron Age.

Aspendos was one of the earliest cities to mint coins in the region, first came the "staters" and later, Greek drachmas.

The wide range of its coinage found throughout the ancient world indicates that by the 5th century B.C., Aspendos had become very influential urban center in Pamphylia. Aspendos continued to issue coins until the late Roman period.

At that time the nearby Eurymedon River was navigable as far as Aspendos, and the city derived great wealth from a trade in salt, oil, and wool. 

https://www.romeartlover.it/Aspendos.html

An attractive ceremonial arch was built over one of the three streets leading to the upper town. Archaeologists have found a limited number of statues, reliefs and in general marbles in the upper town (acropolis) of Aspendos, unlike the numerous finds at nearby Perge.

In 333 B.C., Aspendos paid a tribute to Alexander the Great to avoid being taken over. It later ignored its agreements with him, and was then occupied. In 190 B.C. the city surrendered to the Romans, who later pillaged its artistic treasures.   
Aspendos went into decline towards the end of the Roman period, which continued throughout the Byzantine times.

Scanned map.

The map above (I found it on-line years ago, but can't site it now), shows the destinations that I pursued with my rental car on that one hurried day: Side (right side), followed by Aspendos, and then Perge. Aspendos is located 48 km. east of Antalya.

Archaeology Insights:
Near the ancient theater stands the remains of several items: a basilica, an agora, a nymphaeum and a Roman aqueduct that extended 15 km. into the mountains. I may cover these in a future post.

The remains of an aqueduct siphon system at Aspendos are matched by another system located in Pergamon (modern Perga), Turkey. More forthcoming in a future blog.

The Roman Eurymedon Bridge, (greatly reconstructed) is also in the vicinity, and will be covered in a future post.

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