The ancient city of Termessos is located 34 kilometres from Antalya in the western part of the Gulluk Daghi Natural Park on a plateau 1050 metres high. It is one of the most significant ancient cities of Turkey and covers a very large area.
The name of the city of Termessos originates from the Etruscan language. In translation from Etruscan language, the word means "high fortress in the mountains". It is believed that on the site of Termessos, the first human settlements existed around the 3rd millennium BC, and the city itself was formed in the early 6th century BC. The polis reached its flourishing in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, at which time its population grew to 150,000 people. As Termessos was an ally of Rome, it was granted independent status by the Roman Senate. As a result the city could mint its own coins and not have Roman emperors on them.
Virtually all the structures that have survived to this day were built were built during this period. The city fell into disrepair in the 9th century AD, when there were several major earthquakes and the city's water supply was disrupted. The locals moved to other Lycian cities. In the same form in which Termessos remained after the earthquakes, it has survived to this day.
The location of ancient Termessos was very clever and favourably utilised the natural landscape for defensive purposes. Natural rock formations protected it on the east and west sides, and the entrances to the valley were enclosed by high and strong upper and lower city walls. The only way to enter Termessos could only be entered by passing through the city gates located in the walls. It was impossible to bring heavy equipment to breach the walls here, and also it was impossible to storm the city in a hail of arrows from the defenders. Even Alexander of Macedon couldn't capture it and only set fire to the olive groves, surrounding Termessos. Excavations on the southern slope of Mount Solimus have uncovered rock-cut canals, 30 kilometres long, stretching from the town of Fazelis to Antalya. Historians believe that olive oil through these canals flowed olive oil and wine produced in Termessos. And in coastal Fazelis, they were filled into jugs, which were sent on ships and sold in other countries.
Most of the city's interesting sites are concentrated along the so-called Road of the Kings. During the Hellenic period, this city road passed along fortifications and past water tanks. It was built in the second century at the request and expense of the citizens and crossed the city in an almost straight line.
The main attraction of Termessos today is the theatre, which is not very large theatre, carved directly into the rocks, with a capacity of about 4000-5000 spectators. It was built under Emperor Augustus, around the second century AD and is a typical example of Roman architecture. The seats for spectators are arranged in a semicircle and separated by an arched entrance on the side of the of the agora, which is now ruined and covered with stones. The stage is separated from the rooms by a wall with five doors of rich ornamentation. On the lower floor there are five rooms for animals, which used to be released for fights in the orchestra pit. From the seats for spectators, there is a stunning panorama of the neighbourhood - you can see Antalya and a bit of the sea (you'll definitely stop regretting going you've climbed so high.) The back wall of the theatre is supposed to have been very high - up to about five or six metres high. The benches of the theatre have sagged in some places, but they still retain their shape.
In the main square of the city is the Agora, the ground floor of which stands on stone blocks. It is surrounded on three sides by columns, which were built as a gift to the city from King Attalos II in 150-138 BC. The street with benches and colonnades on both sides was in ancient times a place for walking. Nowadays the agora and its columns have been destroyed by the earthquakes that raged here, so the columns are chaotically scattered on the ground.
The ruins of the gymnasium, dating from the first century AD, are heavily overgrown with shrubs and and trees. An earthquake left only half of the walls. However, the two halls of the gymnasium have survived quite well. The outer walls of the gymnasium building are decorated with niches and Doric ornamentation. These are simple geometric figures, but they're very well proportioned. The height and length of the building are striking.
The Odeon, the meeting place of the city council or parliament, was located close to the theatre. This arrangement was classical in those days. The structure resembles a theatre and was erected in the first century BC. The building is remarkably well preserved up to the roof level and shows the fine quality of the architecture and construction. The upper tier of the odeon is made of large rectangular blocks and decorated in the Doric style. The lower tier is devoid of ornamentation and has two entrances. The building was illuminated by eleven large windows located in the eastern and western walls. The roof of the building is very poorly preserved, but its size is impressive - about 50 square metres. The interior of the odeon is now completely filled with weeds and small stones. Archaeologists believe it could have housed could have housed up to 500 people at a time. It's also known that the walls of the odeon decorated with marble mosaics.
Six temples of various sizes and types were discovered in ancient Termessos. Four of them were located in the vicinity of the odeon. The first temple is dedicated to Zeus, who was worshipped by the inhabitants of Termessos. Around this building were found fragments of relief depictions of battle scenes between gods and monsters. The second temple is dedicated to Artemis, and its area is approximately 25 square metres. In the temple, dating from the end of the second century AD, the steps and some of the bas-reliefs are well preserved. The third temple was the largest in the city. It too was dedicated to Artemis and had between six and eight columns. The fourth, the smallest temple, is located at the at the foot of the mountain. It used to sit on a high podium and was a place of worship of a demigod or hero. The temple was erected in the second or third century AD. The remaining two sanctuaries were built in the third century and are near the columns erected by Attalos.
One of the most educational sites in Termessos today is the ancient Necropolis. It is known to contain the burials of only the wealthy inhabitants of the of the city, where the remains of ordinary citizens of the polis are buried is still a mystery. In the necropolis there are many tombs and sarcophagi made of limestone or wood, decorated with various ornaments. They are often are often on pedestals and date from the 2nd or 3rd century. Unfortunately, all of them have been looted and barbarised. There are lids of sarcophagi, and some of the sarcophagi are dilapidated. They're scattered and overgrown with grass. When the bodies were buried, they were dressed in their finest clothes and expensive jewellery - that's why they were treated so cruelly. Now some of the of the sarcophagi are on display in the Antalya Museum, among them are the interesting coffin of of General Akletis and an urn for a dog. But the most impressive are still the family crypts carved into the mountains. Unfortunately, vandals also had a hand in them, but now you can still see the original relief of the walls and bas-reliefs with the heads of furies, which were supposed to protect them from burglary.
On the territory of Termessos there is an underground reservoir consisting of five huge cisterns, which are up to ten metres deep. The interior of the reservoirs is lined with limestone. In the city you can see the monument to the hero Chiron and the a functioning well, 2-3 metres deep.
Termessos is probably the least human-affected historical monument, known in Turkey. Here, the traveller finds the city as it was the locals left it after earthquakes centuries ago. It is difficult to move around due to the abundance of bushes and thorny weeds, no convenient roads, toilets, or eating places. Many historically valuable objects are hidden in the ground. The city has been poorly researched by archaeologists, which gives us hope for bright new discoveries.
