The city of Perge was founded after the Trojan War and soon became a major port of of Pamphylia. Little information remains about the city until the arrival here of Alexander the of Macedon in 333 BC. The people of Perge opened the gates to him and allowed him to use it as a military stronghold. In 133 BC the city of Perge became part of the Roman Empire. It was under Roman rule that the city began to grow and prosper. Perge is also famous for being the first place where the Apostle Paul. sermon by the Apostle Paul.
The city's Greco-Roman theatre was built in the second half of the 2nd century AD. AD and at one time had a seating capacity of about 15,000 spectators. The structure consisted of two floors. The walls are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting Dionysus and Kentros. Even today. you can still see fragments of these decorations. All the seats for the spectators are divided into into two sectors with thirteen staggered seats. The Romans used the theatre building for gladiatorial fights. On the outer wall of the theatre a fountain was built. In front of the theatre is a U-shaped stadium, which is still well preserved today. It too was built in the 2nd century AD. The stadium could accommodate 12,000 spectators.
Sections of the city's fortress walls, up to 12 metres high, have been preserved. The southern Southern Gate, through which tourists enter the city, is also called the "Roman Gate". Roman Gate". Just behind them is the Hellenistic Gate (3rd century AD). On the At the edges of the gate are round-shaped towers with ruined tops and niches in which in which are sculptures found during excavations. Behind the gate is a small courtyard with niches in the walls. walls. The northern side of the courtyard has three entrances. They are built in the form of two-storey approaches. In the niches of this entrance structure once stood statues of Roman emperors and empresses.
On the eastern side of the Hellenistic Gate is the Pergian Agora. It was built in the 4th century AD. The agora is surrounded by columns, and the perimeter is lined with workshops and rooms. are workshops and rooms. In the centre is a circular temple. On the southern is a church. Recent archaeological searches have unearthed found well-preserved Roman baths located opposite the agora.
From the main gate to the acropolis stretches a wide, marble-paved street Arcadian with colonnades on either side. In the middle of the street runs a water channel two metres wide, and on either side were the stalls of the merchants. This main street is crossed by another, running east-west, at the widened the ruins of a monumental palestra can be found at its widened western end. The palestra is a well-preserved structure dedicated to Emperor Claudius (41-54 AD). Near the city walls at the western end of this street at the western end of this street.
On the eastern side of Arcadian Street, a bishop's basilica was built during the Byzantine era. Episcopal basilica with two naves. On the opposite side of the Arcadian at the On the opposite side of the Arcadian at the foot of the acropolis is the nymphaeum (sacred spring), which is a semi-circular structure, given to the semicircular structure dating from the reign of Hadrian (130-150 AD). В in the centre of this huge fountain, 21 metres long and 37.5 metres wide, a statue of the god of the river. Many different sculptures of different sculptures.
Just behind the Nymphaeum on the mountain was the Acropolis. What was left of it at the very at the very top of the mountain, there is an unassuming building which contains the remains of marble columns and vaulted ceilings. vaulted ceilings.
