Turkey 2009 - Part 1

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Plan of Aspendos showing the theatre, acropolis and the aqueduct Aspendos - this is part of the aqueduct which brought water to the city from the mountains, approximately 15 kilometres away The aqueduct carried water across the valley at a low level via a Pressurised by a header tank in the hills, water flowed over the tower on the other side of the valley to this tower near the acropolis The water channel was sealed, creating a siphonic effect enabling the water to flow up over the towers and down across the valley
Aspendos Aspendos Aspendos Aspendos Aspendos
         
The south tower of the aqueduct which brought water to the acropolis of Aspendos.  The north tower can be seen in the distance Cotton growing in the valley at Aspendos. Basilica on the acropolis of Aspendos.  The site is overgrown and only partially excavated
Basilica Nymphaeum on one side of the Agora.  Underneath the Agora area are cisterns for storing water for the city
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Archway and main street leading into the city of Aspendos Looking back down the street to the archway View from Aspendos The theatre at Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world and until recently was still used for commercial performances It was built in the 2nd Century AD and has a fine stage building which still stands at its full height
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The statues and columns have disappeared, but the stage building itself has needed very little restoration There are 40 rows of seats and the theatre would have held approximately 15,000 spectators The theatre was built of local stone, but faced with marble Demir waits on the central steps of the stage building for the group to return from exploring. He has a long wait - as usual! The first of our many, very enjoyable lunch stops
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The restaurant looked out over a river.  Trout was on the menu It was a steep climb to Termessos which is situated at about 1000 feet on the summit of a mountain The city walls at this point offered a defensive system that defeated Alexander the Great in 333 BC Demir tells us about the history of Termessos These impressive walls house the Bouleuterion of Termessos.  They are almost 10 metres in height
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An substantial structure which probably dates from the 1st Century BC The background to the theatre of Termessos gave the audience a spectacular view This theatre is Greek in style and would have seated approximately 4000 people It is in very good condition.  Its distance from civilisation meant that robbing the stone was too much like hard work The Romans built a stage and wild animals were released into the orchestra, but it still feels Greek
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We scramble back to join Demir... ...who tells us about the five large cisterns located here for storing water for Termessos A few years ago these openings to the cisterns were not covered.  Health and Safety has arrived in Turkey! Most of the site is overgrown and old buildings hide amongst the trees and bushes This area housed a Gymnasium and a Baths complex
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Lost in the undergrowth Turkey oak growing amongst the ruins A similar motif to these appears over the gateway at Perge The acropolis of Sillyon, another fortified city which evaded Alexander the Great in 333 BC A local lady carries water to her home
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Building materials from Sillyon incorporated into a modern shelter Sternbergia Sillyon - these remains are said to be part of a palace building Sillyon - legend said that the city was founded by fugitives from the Trojan War Looking out across the plain
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Demir and Looking up towards the acropolis and a substantial, but unidentified building The plain below Sillyon is agricultural and densely cultivated Possibly the remains of a gymnasium.  Sillyon has barely been excavated and it is difficult to identify many of the buildings A ramp led up to the acropolis, supported by massive buttresses
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The group studies an inscription on a fallen pedestal A two storey  Hellenistic tower Hellenistic tower A fully grown tortoise ... ... and a baby one
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The site was very overgrown Demir Currently used to house sheep, this structure may have once have been a small mosque Buildings on top of the acropolis The local guide to the local guide
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It is difficult to know what is what An inscription in Pamphylian dialect on this doorway is said to date to circa 200 BC More unidentifiable buildings There is evidence of fastenings and supports for shutters on the windows of this building This is all that is left of the theatre of Sillyon which was destroyed in a landslide in 1969
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It seems like a good spot for a group photo - if you have a head for heights Everyone gathers... ...on the top few rows only Looking down on the lower parts of the city near the entrance It is a bit of a scramble to get down
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An impressive wall in a building whose use is not known Some find the path down a bit treacherous We wait for them to catch up Margaret tries to get a signal on her mobile phone to get news of her new grandchild Another fine meal at a restaurant with very posh toilets
Sillyon Sillyon Sillyon Sillyon Lunch
         
The southern gateway of Perge.  Above this gateway is a motif similar to those seen at the gateway of Termessos Beyond the archway of the southern gate is the Hellenistic Gate with its two round towers The southern wall and gateway of Perge built by Septimus Severus The Hellenistic Gateway of Perge with its two round towers, which are being restored, and its horseshoe courtyard beyond Part of the Baths of Perge.  This is probably the outdoor pool
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Perge - the Frigidarium, with south facing windows.  A small area of the mosaic flooring is uncovered Perge - substantial hypocaust in the Baths Complex Perge - The Caldarium of the main Baths of Perge Perge - the Caldarium, again with south facing windows The Tepidarium of the main Baths of Perge
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Looking back along the colonnaded street towards the Hellenistic Gates of Perge.  A water channel runs the length of the street The Agora The Stadium of Perge The wall across the end of the Stadium was built in later years when there were fewer spectators The Stadium dates to the 2nd Century AD and could hold approximately 12,000 people
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The seating of the Stadium is supported on barrel vaults which served both as entrances and shops There were 30 barrel vaults on the eastern side of the Stadium The space under the vaults had many uses Sue and Arnold choose a rug to take home with them A recently excavated domestic area of Sagalassos
Perge Perge Perge Carpet Shop Sagalassos
         
Excavations are taking place each summer at Sagalassos and the site is revealing more of itself each year Sagalassos is situated at about 4000 feet and the city is spread across the contours of the hills.  These buildings house the Baths This Hellenistic Fountain dates from the 1st Century BC. Behind it is the Neon Library which dates from the 2nd Century AD The water channels feeding the fountain were unblocked during excavation... ..and water flows once more into the basins after so many years, without any restoration
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The Hellenistic Water Fountain of Sagalassos The interior of the Neon Library which is named after its 2nd Century AD founder The Neon Library was repaired and altered many times over the centuries This mosaic floor was laid in the 4th Century AD Looking across to the Theatre of Sagalassos which fits neatly into the hillside
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The area around the Theatre has not yet been excavated The Theatre could seat approximately 9000 spectators, but was destroyed by a series of earthquakes The stage building suffered particularly badly, though most of the stone is still there, should reconstruction ever be considered The Theatre was completed in the 2nd Century AD, but the Cavea, which is built into the slope, was probably much earlier The access tunnel is in very good condition...
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... though this end has collapsed The Theatre has fine views across to the hillside upon which Alexander the Great camped during his campaign against the city Looking back towards the Upper Agora and the important buildings of Sagalassos The Upper Agora of Sagalassos which was the political centre of the city The Northwest Heroon - this monument was built in honour of an unknown hero or important citizen of Sagalassos
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It has been reconstructed from the original stonework, though some essential, missing pieces were carved where necessary The Northwest Heroon dominates the skyline and can be seen clearly from the bottom of the valley miles away It was constructed during the reign of Augustus at the beginning of the 1st Century AD
The Bouleuterion was built in the 1st Century BC.  In the 5th Century AD, a church was built in the courtyard in the foreground There were seats on three sides of the Bouleuterion.  The front seats by the steps have lion paws for feet
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A gaming table of some sort? The Antonine Nymphaeum is situated on the north side of the Upper Agora.  It is currently undergoing reconstruction It was constructed in the 2nd Century AD and was highly decorated The Antonine Nymphaeum with one of four honorific columns which stood in the corners of the Upper Agora The central  feature of the Antonine Nymphaeum, showing some of the ornate carving and the corinthian columns
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Rebecca and Ruth pose for me on the rather splendid bench seat near the honorific column These niches in the cliff face housed the ashes of dead citizens of Sagalassos The Macellum - this food market was built in the 2nd Century AD and had a tholos with a fountain in the centre It was at a lower level than the Agora and had shops on three sides under porticos.  The fourth side was open to show the view Looking down to the Baths of Sagalassos, which was the largest building in the city.  It is still being excavated
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The conical hill in the foreground is where Alexander the Great camped whilst conducting his campaign against Sagalassos The Odeion - this is in a poor condition and has been altered and built over, so it is difficult to imagine it as it would have been The Odeion - some parts of the original structure can still be seen We relax with a cup of tea after our exertions It was sunny and very pleasant
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Ben, Ruth and Rebecca enjoying a rest Gill enjoying another good meal in Aglusun, though some people had to wait a long time to be served This is a family run business and in 2001 they also catered for the group The Blue Garden Hotel in Antalya The swimming pool is very inviting...
Sagalassos Aglusun Aglusun Antalya Antalya
         
... so Wendy and I tried it out Our beds are beautifully laid out An evening visit to Hadrian's Gate in the old part of Antalya which commemorated Hadrian's visit in 130 AD Wendy on the beach at Antalya, with the mountains in the background, clear for the first time The beach and mountins of Antalya
Antalya Antalya Antalya Antalya Antalya
         
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