Tour Maker Turkey
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Weather In Turkey
    • Istanbul >
      • Sightseeing Points >
        • Blue Mosque
        • Hippodrome
        • Topkapi Palace
        • Hagia Sophia
        • Sogukcesme Street
        • Little Hagia Sophia
        • Basilica Cistern
        • Turkish And Islamic Arts
        • Arasta Bazaar
        • Gulhane Park
        • Archaeology Museum
        • Old City Walls
        • Suleymaniye Mosque
        • Eyup Sultan
        • Kalenderhane Mosque
        • Pierre Loti Hill
        • Miniaturk Museum
        • Panorama 1453
        • Chora Museum
        • Seven Tower Dungeons
        • Grand Bazaar
        • Sahaflar Bazaar
        • Mahmut Pasha Bazaar
        • Spice Bazaar
        • New Mosque
        • Rustem Pasha Mosque
        • Tekfur Palace
        • Galata Tower
        • Galata Dervish Lodge
        • Emirgan Park
        • Yildiz Royal Garden
        • Maiden's Tower
        • Dolmabahce Palace
        • Beylerbeyi Palace
        • Ciragan Palace
        • Rumeli Fortress
        • Anatolian Fortress
        • Khedive Pavilion
        • Ihlamur Pavilion
        • Yusha Mosque
        • Kadikoy Bazaar
        • Camlica Hill
      • Tulips of Istanbul
      • Historical Peninsula
      • Taksim New City
      • Ortakoy Village
      • Bosphorus
      • Princes' Islands
      • Golden Horn >
        • Galata Bridge
      • Where to Stay
      • Entrance Fee
      • Istanbul Maps
      • Istanbul For Fun >
        • Turkish Bath
        • Turkish Music
        • Istanbul in the Movies
        • Ready to Visit ?
        • Legends of Istanbul
    • Cappadocia >
      • Kaymakli
      • Goreme Museum
      • Pigeon Valley
      • Uchisar Castle
      • Saratli
      • Pasabagi
      • Zelve
      • Three Graces
      • Avanos
      • Ihlara Valley
      • Ozkonak
      • Wish Hill
      • Hot Air Balloon
    • Ankara >
      • Ankara Castle
      • Ataturk Mausoleum
      • Hittite Museum
      • Augustus Temple
    • Bursa >
      • Silk Market
      • Grand Mosque
      • Green Mosque and Tomb
      • Uludag Mountain
      • Cumalikizik
      • Emir Sultan Mosque
      • Iskender Kebab
    • Edirne >
      • Selimiye Mosque
      • Sultan Bayezid Complex
      • Edirne Palace
      • Uc Serefeli Mosque
    • Safranbolu >
      • Kaymakam House
      • Safranbolu Bazaar
      • Watchtower
      • Cinci Inn
    • Canakkale >
      • Troy
      • Assos
      • Mirror Mall
      • Ida Mountains
      • Gallipoli National Park
    • Bergama >
      • Acropolis
      • Asclepion
      • Red Court
      • Bergama Museum
    • Izmir >
      • Kordon
      • Velvet Castle
      • Clock Tower
      • Greek Agora
      • The Lift
      • Kemeralti Mall
    • Kusadasi >
      • Ephesus
      • Isa Bey Mosque
      • Temple of Artemis
      • House of Virgin Mary
      • Basilica of St.John
      • Sirince Village
    • Antalya >
      • Alanya
      • Aspendos
      • Demre
      • Santa Claus
      • Kale Ici
      • Kas
      • Manavgat Waterfalls
      • Finike
      • Patara
      • Perge
    • Pamukkale >
      • Hierapolis & Cotton Castle
      • Laodicea
      • Colossea
      • Karahayit
      • Painted Mosques
      • Buldan
    • Konya >
      • Mevlana
      • Mevlana Museum
      • Aladdin Mosque
      • Kilistra Ancient City
      • Aya Elena Church
      • Sultan Hani Caravanserai
    • Amasya >
      • Yalibolu Houses
      • King Rock Tombs
      • Amasya Castle
      • Sultan Bayezid II Complex
    • Samsun >
      • Amazon Village
      • Amisos Hill
      • Gazi Museum
      • Hamamyagi Thermal
      • Honorary Monument
      • Mater Dolorasa Church
      • Samsun Archaelogy Museum
      • Tekkekoy Inns
    • Ordu >
      • Golkoy Castle
      • Osman Pasha Fountain
      • Pashaoglu Mansion
      • Tasbasi Church
  • Maps

PERGE

Perge is one of the most well-known cities of Lycian union both in Hellenistic period and later in Roman world with school of sculture and famed sculptors. The city also used to be capital of Pamphylia once upon a time. Perge was the important stop for St. Paul who spent some time in this city in order to advertise Christianity during his  missionary journeys in the first century AD,  made his famous speech  to the followers of Christ after returning from Cyprus  and was boarded in Perge to go to Rome. 

LOCATION
Perge is located in the east of the border Aksu town which is about 18 kms from Antalya airport and is based on the Aksu River. It takes half an hour to reach Perge from Antalya city center and it belongs to Antalya province. Its neighbours are ; Döşemealtı and Kepez in the West, Serik in the east and Burdur is in the north. The center of the district is in the west of the Aksu River. Ancient Perge  which was one of the nicest cities of the antiquity is 4kms from Aksu town.

HISTORY
According to ancient historian Strabo, Perge was discovered by colonists from Argos city under the leadership of heros Mopsos and Calchas after the Trojan War in 11th C BC. The sculptures of Mopsos and Calchas found in excavations show that they were the mythological founders of Perge. It is known that Perge was ruled by the Greeks in between 7th and 6th centuries BC and later was under the rule of Persians till the time of the Alexander the Great.  In 334 BC after the battle of Granicus, Alexander the Great saved Asia Minor from Persian occupation and Perge was handed over to Alexander without  any resistance. Although the city was protected by a strong city walls in the classical period, it must not have been wanting to fight with the powerful Macedonian Army. After the death of Alexander, Perge has been a domain of Antigonos in a short period and  then fell under Seleucid rule and was added to Pergamene kingdom later. 

When the kingdom of Pergamum was given to Rome by Attalos III, Perge became an important Roman city in the region of of Pamphylia. In 79  AD Roman statesman Cicero came to Perge and a became the governor. In 46 A.D Perge hosted a major event for the Christian world, as the Apostle of the Activities section mentioned  in New Testament, St. Paul came to Perge from Cyprus, he went to Antiocheia in Pisidia and then he gave a sermon in Perge after returning from Pisidian Antiocheia and finally departed to Attaleia during his first missionary journey. From the beginning of the Roman Empire period, major construction projects have been implemented in the city of Perge and Perge has become one of the most beautiful cities , not only in Pamphylia but also in the whole province of Asia Minor in the the second and third centuries A.D. In first half of the fourth century AD, Christianity  was declared as the the official religion of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great and Perge was one of the important episcopal see. Perge lost its remaining power with the Arab invasions in which began in the mid-seventh century A.D. and a large portion of the city in this period emigrated to Antalya. Seljuk Turks captured the area in 12th century and it was added to Ottoman empire in 14th century. Aksu was founded 4kms after the ancient ruins as a small nomadic village in 16th century  and it was added to Antalya city during the republican time. Now Aksu is a district greater Antalya region with the population of 25.000 inhabitants.

THE SIGHTS IN PERGE

THEATRE
The first building facing a person who enters Perge is  the Greek-Roman type theater which was built on the southern outskirts of Kocabelen hill. The cavea, spectators’ seats, slightly larger than half circle,  is divided by a broad diazoma. The total seating capacity of the theatre is 13.000 consisting 19 rows at the bottom and 23 rows at the top. The entry and exit paths of the theatre were made other in different directions in accordance with the rules of the Roman theater architecture. The viewers from both ends passing through the archway and stairs and reached the side exit doors located on both sides then they were distributed to where they were seated. Orchestra was used as a gladiator arena where the wild animal fights were held duing the first, second and mid-third centuries A.D.This area was surrounded by carved panels passing through marble balls  to prevent the escape of animals. Partially standing two-storey stage building with colonnaded architecture and sculpture decorations  can be dated to the middle of the second century A.D. The most distinctive feature of the theater are mythological reliefs that decorate the face of this podium. The reliefs are nymphs personifying the Aksu River, god of wine and theater founder Dionysus and other local gods of Perge. Unfortunately,these beautiful reliefs were damaged as the result of the crash scene building.

STADIUM
The stadium , on the right of the asphalt road leading to the town from the theater, is one of the best preserved stadiums to have survived from antiquity. This huge rectangular building measuring 34x334 meters is a horseshoe-shaped at the northern end and South side is open. There are seventy-vaulted rooms under the stadium. These rooms are connected to each other and are engaged in a theater in all three compartments. This area is inscribed with the names the owners and the list of the articles for sale so we can understand that they were the shops. The rows of seats on the arched rooms provide a seating capacity of 12,000.Although it was built for chariot races and some entertaintment in the second century A.D. It was converted into an arena surrounded by a protective cage of the northern end of the stadium when gladiatorial combat became popular with wild animals in the middle of the third century A.D. 

THE SARCOPHAGUS
The famous sarcophagus in Perge, called Plancius Verus, belongs to the daughter of the governor of Bithynia Plancia Magna. Plancia Magna was a woman with a wealthy and civic consciousness whom she was leading of all public affairs in Perge. She used to be mother nun of planners  mother goddess Magna, chief priestess of Artemis Pergaia and priestess of the imperial cults. 

THE CITY WALLS AND TOWERS 
A large part of Perge are surrounded by walls some of which dating back to the Hellenistic period. On top of the fortifications 12 - 13 meter high towers were built but during the Pax Romana the fortifications lost their importance ensuring with the lasting peace and tranquility and the buildings such as theaters and stadiums were built beyond the walls without fear. After the entrance gate at the beginning of the city walls, there is a monumental fountain that was built in honor of emperor Septimus Severus. The pieces of monumental fountain and the sculptures of Perge  are on dislay in Antalya museum today.
Content Author   : Mahmut ÖKÇESIZ
Page Editor           : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published              : 02 December 2014
  • ISTANBUL

    About Istanbul

    Blue Mosque

    Hippodrome

    Topkapi Palace

    Hagia Sophia

    Sogukcesme Street

    Little Hagia Sophia

    Basilica Cistern

    Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum

    Arasta Bazaar

    Gulhane Park

    Archaeology Museum

    Old City Walls

    Suleymaniye Mosque

    Eyup Sultan

    Kalenderhane Mosque

    Pierre Loti Hill

    Miniaturk Museum

    Panorama 1453

    Chora Museum

    Seven Tower Dungeons

    Grand Bazaar

    Sahaflar Bazaar

    Mahmut Pasha Bazaar

    Spice Bazaar

    New Mosque

    Rustem Pasha Mosque

    Tekfur Palace

    Galata Tower

    Galata Dervish Lodge

    Emirgan Park

    Yildiz Royal Garden

    Maiden’s Tower

    Dolmabahce Palace

    Beylerbeyi Palace

    Ciragan Palace

    Rumeli Fortress

    Anatolian Fortress

    Khedive Pavilion

    Ihlamur Pavilion

    Yusha Mosque

    Kadikoy Bazaar

    Camlica Hill

  • BURSA

    About Bursa

    Silk Market

    Grand Mosque

    Green Mosque & Tomb

    Uludag Mountain

    Cumalikizik Village

    Emir Sultan Mosque

    Iskender Kebab

  • EDIRNE

    About Edirne

    Selimiye Mosque

    Sultan Bayezid Complex

    Edirne Palace

    Uc Serefeli Mosque

  • CANAKKALE

    About Canakkale

    Troy

    Assos

    Mirror Mall

    Ida Mountains

    Gallipoli National Park

  • BERGAMA

    About Bergama

    Acropolis

    Asclepion

    Red Court

    Bergama Museum

  • IZMIR

    About Izmir

    Kordon

    Velvet Castle

    Clock Tower

    Greek Agora

    The Lift

    Kemeralti Mall

  • Kusadasi

    About Kusadasi

    Ephesus

    Isa Bey Mosque

    Temple of Artemis

    House of Virgin Mary

    Basilica of St.John

    Sirince Village

  • Pamukkale

    About Pamukkale

    Hierapolis & Cotton Castle

    Laodicea

    Colossea

    Karahayit

    Painted Mosques

    Buldan

  • Antalya

    About Antalya

    Alanya

    Aspendos

    Demre

    Santa Claus

    Kale Ici

    Kas

    Manavgat Waterfalls

    Finike

    Patara

    Perge

  • Konya

    About Konya

    Mevlana

    Mevlana Museum

    Aladdin Mosque

    Kilistra Ancient City

    Aya Elena Church

    Sultanhani Caravanserai

  • Cappadocia

    About Cappadocia

    Kaymakli Underground City

    Goreme Open Air Museum

    Pigeon Valley

    Uchisar Castle

    Saratli Underground City

    Pasabagi

    Zelve

    Three Graces

    Avanos

    Ihlara Valley

    Ozkonak Underground City

    Wish Hill

    Hot Air Balloon

  • Ankara

    About Ankara

    Ankara Castle

    Ataturk Mausoleum

    Hittite Museum

    Augustus Temple

  • Safranbolu

    About Safranbolu

    Kaymakam House

    Safranbolu Bazaar

    Watchtower

    Cinci Inn

  • Amasya

    About Amasya

    Yalibolu Houses

    King Rock Tombs

    Amasya Castle

    Sultan Bayezid II Complex

  • Samsun

    About Samsun

    Amazon Village

    Amisos Hill

    Gazi Museum

    Hamamyagi Thermal

    Honorary Monument

    Mater Dolorasa Church

    Samsun Archaelogy Museum

    Tekkekoy Inns

  • Ordu

    About Ordu

    Golkoy Castle

    Osman Pasha Fountain

    Pashaoglu Mansion

    Tasbasi Church

Tour Maker Turkey is the source of information that introduce destinations in Turkey with detailed explanation of Sight Seeing points. You can plan your trip with soft explanation of tourist attractions with clear images.
GNM MATAHARI TRAVEL ISTANBUL
Address : Binbirdirek Mahallesi, Klod Farer Caddesi, Sn.Ragıp Uluca Apt. No:11 Kat:2
                  34122 (Sultanahmet) Fatih, Istanbul / Turkey
Tel :  +90 (212) 458 13 27 pbx.  / Fax :  +90 (212) 458 13 47
e-mail :  info@gnmtravel.com
BACK TO TOP
All rights of this website reserved by Social House. No part of this website may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.