Ancient pergue. Perge (Perge). What to see in Perge
Perge (or Perge) is an ancient city on the territory of modern Turkey (within the city of Antalya). Preserved in ruins.
Exact information about the date of foundation and the founder is not known. But there is a legend that says that the city was founded by Calchas - a priest and soothsayer Greek king Agamemnon during the Trojan War. He was famous for predicting the duration of the war with Troy, and also explained some signs to Agamemnon. According to some sources, after the end of the Trojan War, Calchas with his followers wandered around Pamphylia, where he founded several cities, including Perge.
Apparently, to avoid military attacks from the sea, the city was built 11 km. from the sea coast.
In different historical periods, the city was owned by the Lydians, Persians, Alexander the Great, the Seleucids, the Kingdom of Pergamon, and the Romans. It was during the Roman period that the city reached its apogee.
It is known that in the 1st c. n. e. Apostles Paul and Barnabas preached here.
The decline began in the era of the Byzantine Empire. Arab raids, drought and famine forced the inhabitants to leave Perge. And by the time the Seljuk Turks came to these lands, the once rich city had already become a small village, and later completely disappeared.
Archeological monuments in the city
Ancient amphitheater for 12 thousand spectators; the stadium is also for 12 thousand people; ruins of fortress walls (once they were 12 m high); Southern (Roman) gate; Hellenistic gate; ruins of a Roman bath, ancient basilicas, residential buildings, outbuildings, roads and other structures.
Today, of course, only ruins remain from the ancient settlement, but for those who are attracted by the atmosphere of ancient Turkey, this place is a real find!
Combining Roman and Hellenistic elements of culture and architecture, Perge every year becomes more and more attractive for lovers of real antiquity.
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The date of foundation of Perge is not exactly known, but historians and archaeologists date this time around the 7th century BC, just at the time of the Trojan War. According to the legends the founder of the city is the seer Calchas.
Due to the richest fertile land, proximity to the Kestros River (now the shallow Aksu), which flows into the sea, the trading settlement quickly grew and developed.
The location of the city was somewhat strange at that time: they usually tried to build cities in close proximity to the sea in order to conduct extensive trade with other countries. And Perge was located 11 km from the sea in order to avoid enemy attacks from ships.
It reached its heyday during the reign of the Romans (it became part of the Roman Empire in 188 AD). According to legend and preserved stone drawings, the stronghold of Alexander the Great was located here.
The Macedonian troops did not touch and did not destroy the city - the inhabitants of the city themselves opened the gates to Alexander. The grateful emperor not only spared the locals, but also saved them from paying tribute to the Persian ruler.
Perge also left its mark on the history of science - the mathematician and astronomer Apollonius of Perga (260-170 BC) was born and lived here, who is the author of a number of studies on geometry and the theory of planetary motion.
The Roman era left behind the most valuable sculptures and works of art, many of which are stored today in Turkish archaeological museums (some of them are stored in the Antalya Archaeological Museum).
Minted Perge and his coin. On the very first coins (2nd century AD) there was an image of the goddess Artemis, who was considered the patroness of the city.
However, over time it began to decline. The soil lost its fertility, becoming more swampy.
The river became shallow, and merchant ships stopped entering this city. With the decline of trade, a general economic recession began.
The raids of nomadic Arabs intensified. And gradually, on the site of a prosperous city, only a small village remained with a handful of residents who did not want to leave their usual habitable places.
During the Byzantine Empire, the city finally fell into decay, leaving behind only priceless monuments of antiquity.
Active visits by tourists to these places began about 6 - 7 years ago. The place was cleared and ennobled, signs and stands were put up with familiarization information and detailed plans of architectural structures (in English).
If the main purpose of your visit to Turkey is shopping, then we advise you to familiarize yourself with the shopping centers of Istanbul in advance. More detailed information - .
The entire complex of architectural structures available for tourists to visit consists of the Hellenistic Gate, an amphitheater, a stadium and a number of residential buildings. Tourists enter through the South Gate, followed by the famous Hellenistic Gate.
The main street of Perge - Arcadian, is wide, paved with marble, on both sides there are colonnades. The site of the ancient city itself, open to visitors, includes:
After examining these architectural structures, tourists can simply walk along the former streets of Perge, which have preserved the spirit of ancient times. In some places there are ruins of temples and residential buildings, partially restored palaces.
If you have already managed to visit the ruins of Perge and are eager to plunge into the history of Turkey again, then we advise you to take an excursion to the ancient city, which also boasts amazing architectural buildings.
The easiest way to get to the ancient place is for those tourists who rest in Antalya. Almost any travel agency can arrange a trip to Perge. Excursion tours include a round trip, and the cost of entrance tickets.
Tourists who are in Belek, Alanya, and other cities in this part of Turkey will also not be difficult to get here by local buses (to the D400 highway) or as part of excursion groups. From Antalya, from the bus station (otogar), the Antalya-Manavgat bus departs, which also goes in the direction of Perge.
Video review
Perge is an ancient city buried in ruins, where every thing keeps a long history. A video report from one of the tourists will show you some of the monuments of this place.
Turkey should not be perceived solely as a beach-relaxed vacation option. On its territory, many archaeological sites are located and preserved, so ancient that it takes the breath away from the feeling of time that they “remember”. Here are the legendary Trojan events, and the campaigns of Alexander the Great, as well as the rise and fall of the Great Roman Empire. A mixture of myth and reality - this is ancient Pamphylia, a region that was once located on the territory of present-day Turkey, with the cities of Perge, Aspendos, Side, Sillion and others.
The most impressive and well-preserved ruins of the Pamphylian coast are located in the ancient city of Perge - a beautiful monument of the symbiosis of Roman and Hellenistic cultures, located 17 km east of the center of Antalya in the Aksu region.
The "Acts of the Apostles" of St. Luke tells us that the Apostle Paul preached in Perge.
A bit of history
Archaeologists do not have a common opinion about the time of the foundation of Perge. According to some sources, this is the 7th century BC. e., during the Trojan War. However, a Hittite tablet found in the village of Bogaz indicates that a city called Parha existed already in 1000 BC. e. The choice of site for the city was rather unusual for the period. While most of the cities were built in convenient bays on the coast, Perge was located 20 km from the sea, with which it was connected by the navigable Kestros River (now the shallow Aksu River).
When in 333 B.C. e. Alexander the Great came here, Perge was an independent and rich trading center of Pamphylia. The troops of the king of Macedonia did not touch the city, since its inhabitants themselves opened the gates and did not resist the capture. Perge reached its peak of development by entering the Roman Empire in 188 BC. e.
The periods of Hellenistic and Roman rule were the most favorable for the development of the city.
Perge minted his own coin, and Artemis of Perga became the patroness of the city. The dominance of Byzantium was replaced by the capture of the Seljuks, and from the end of the 14th century, Perge began to belong to the Ottoman Empire.
This picturesque city became the place where St. Paul preached, as evidenced by the Bible "Acts of the Apostles" from St. Luke. And in the history of science, it is known for being the birthplace of the ancient Greek mathematician and astronomer Apollonius of Perga (260-170 BC), the author of studies on geometry and the theory of planetary motion.
How to get there
It will not be difficult for tourists vacationing in Antalya to take a sightseeing tour in Perge or get to it on their own by bus. Motorists should take the D400 highway to the city of Aksu, then turn at the Perge 2 km sign, and move to the parking lot after the amphitheater and the stadium. The entrance ticket to the territory of the archaeological site of Perge costs 43 TRY.
Prices on the page are for September 2018.
Pay attention to the opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 19:00.
Weather in Perge
What to see in Perge
The entire complex of archaeological structures consists of the Roman and Hellenistic gates of Perge, the Roman amphitheater (1st century BC - 2nd century AD) for 15 thousand spectators, the largest stadium in Asia Minor (234 by 34 meters) for 12 thousand man, the ruins of the city walls of different eras, the Roman agora with a Byzantine basilica (4th century AD), Roman baths (terms), the colonnade of the main street with a canal in the middle, shops on the sides and a triumphal fountain - nymphaeum, the ruins of the acropolis, palestra and cemetery .
Sculptures of gods and emperors, which previously adorned the niches of the Hellenistic gates and the amphitheater, are on display outside of Perge at the Antalya Archaeological Museum.
Hellenistic gate
The gates of the Hellenistic era, preserved in the form of dilapidated rounded towers, can be called the hallmark of ancient Perge. They were built in the 3rd century BC. e., much earlier than the "modern" Roman gates (2nd century AD), through which tourists enter the city. Partially preserved are the Hellenistic walls of the city, over 10 meters high. In the Roman period, a niche in the form of a horseshoe was attached to the towers.
Reconstruction of the gate in the 2nd century AD. e. took place at the expense of Plancia Magna - the famous priestess of the goddess Artemis.
She was of noble birth from a very wealthy Roman family, Marcus Plantius Varus, a Roman senator. Plancia Magna was not only a priestess of Artemis, she held a high position in the hierarchy of Perge, as a priestess of the imperial cult, a member of the magistrate, and also a gymnasiarch - the head of the Olympic training school for athletes. In honor of this lady, 5 statues have been erected in Perge and numerous commemorative plaques have been preserved, where she is called the honorary title of “daughter of the city”.
In the niches of the Hellenistic gates, Plantia Magna installed statues of gods, emperors, famous figures of Rome, as well as members of her family. Now the sculptures found during the excavations are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Antalya, and in the niches there are pedestals with inscriptions in Greek.
Agora and Arcadian
During the Roman period, the agora served as the political and cultural center of the city. Agora Perge occupies 75 sq. meters and dates back to the 2nd century AD. e. It is traditionally built up with columns, and trading rows on the sides.
The flooring of the agora is made of mosaics with geometric patterns.
In the center of the agora you can see the ruins of the temple.
Directly behind the Hellenistic gates, Arcadian begins - a long and wide street, on both sides of which numerous columns rise, and on the eastern side there is a church of the Byzantine era. The columns of the church depict the gods Apollo in a crown, Artemis with a torch and a bow, Tsalekh in a helmet and the goddess of happiness Tikha. There was also a fountain - Nymphenium, the jets of which beat from under the statue of the lying god of the river Kestros. Behind the fountain on the mountain was once the Acropolis, but at present the building in its place is of no historical value. But you can feel like a Greek shepherd, hiding here from the scorching sun.
Perge. Ruins of the ancient city.
Thermae
There are legends and sometimes jokes about the love of the Romans for bath procedures. The pleasure of visiting the baths was not cheap and only available to noble patricians. In the baths, they not only washed and rested, but also solved all the important issues of being, philosophical and everyday, backstage intrigues and corruption conspiracies were woven. Baths were the embodiment of wealth and luxury, as well as influence and generosity. Even architecturally, the premises were built in such a way as to emphasize these features: high steps for a stately gait, special elevations on platforms for more important people.
In ancient Perge, of course, there were also baths, the largest in Pamphylia of the 2nd century AD. e. The bath complex is located to the left of the Hellenistic gate and, fortunately for tourists, has been well preserved over the centuries. The baths are finished with marble, decorated with sculptures and relief paintings. On some walls, even the decoration with marble plates has been preserved.
With your own hands you can touch the cold and beautiful thousand-year-old marble.
(Tour. Perge; English. Perga)
Candidate for the UNESCO List
Opening hours: daily from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 17.00.
How to get there: The ancient city of Perge is located 15 km from Antalya and 2 km from the village of Aksu. The easiest way is to get to Perge from Antalya by public transport. To do this, you need to take any bus to Aksu at the Antalya bus station (travel time is about 30 minutes). From Aksu to Perge 2 km, you can take a taxi or walk, following the signs. If you also want to see Asklepion, which is located a little further than Perge (6 km), you need to follow the signs on foot, the journey will take you about an hour. Since Asklepion is located next to the military territory, photography is prohibited here.
If you plan to get to Perge by car, you need to go to the D 400 highway and move to the Aksu village, then turn at the Perge 2 km sign and move to the parking lot after the Amphitheater and the Stadium.
Perge is an ancient city located 15 km east of Antalya. Perge is one of the most mentioned cities of ancient Pamphylia, which was once its capital. In order to avoid raids from the sea, the city was founded 11 kilometers from the coast. This picturesque city became the place where St. Paul preached, as evidenced by the Bible "Acts of the Apostles" from St. Luke.
According to legend, the city was founded by the soothsayer Calchas, after the Trojan War. However, excavations in the village of Bogaz, and the Hittite table found there, indicate that the emergence of the city dates back to the 10th century BC. In those distant times, the name of the city was Parga, in honor of the goddess, whose face was immortalized on an old coin.
From the once beautiful big city, now only ruins remain. But the ruins of Perge keep memories of the Phoenicians, Persians, Romans and Byzantines. Like any ancient city, Perge has its own turbulent history…
It is known that in the 7th century BC the city belonged to the Lydians, in the 6th century BC - to the Persians. There was not much information about Perge until Alexander the Great conquered the city. In 333 BC, at a time when Pamphylia was at war, the inhabitants of Perge let Alexander into their city. They themselves opened the gates for him and allowed him to use their city as a stronghold.
After the death of Alexander the Great, the city came under the rule of the Roman Empire in 133 AD, which can be considered the golden age of Perge. The city grew and prospered. Perge minted his own coin, and Artemis of Perga became the patroness of the city. The proximity of two navigable rivers allowed the city to actively develop and be considered a center of trade.
In 1391, Perge came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Over time, the rivers, which played a major role in the trade and wealth of the city, became shallow. The lands around the city turned into an arid marshland, which forced the population to leave the city in search of a better life. Gradually, the once blooming Perge turned into abandoned ruins. So it remained abandoned until the archaeological excavations of 1945, when interest in Perge resumed. Today, all the artifacts that managed to find and restore delight travelers with wealth and sophistication.
At the very beginning of the archaeological site of Perge, a huge Amphitheater, designed for approximately 15,000 people, appears before the eyes of the audience. The Perge Amphitheater was built in the first half of the century and is a very impressive structure.
42 rows of seats are divided into 23 at the top and 19 at the bottom. The stage, 25 meters high, is decorated with reliefs and friezes. Among the reliefs you can find the image of Kestros and Dionysus - the god of theatrical art and the god of wine. During the reign of the Romans, the Amphitheater was used as an arena for performances and wars of gladiators.
Next to the Amphitheater is a large stadium for 12,000 spectators. The width of the stadium is 24 meters and the length is also 34 meters. Its perimeter rows are supported by arches. Some arches had passages to the stadium, while the rest of the arches contained shops. In the niches of some arches, there are still inscriptions about the owners of the shops and the goods sold here.
The remains of the fortress wall look impressive, which was 12 meters high and served as a good barrier against attacks.
Visitors entered the city through the southern gate, otherwise they were called the “Roman Gate”. Immediately behind them are the Hellenistic Gates, built in the 3rd century BC.
The Hellenistic gate is Perge's calling card. This is the main gate of the city. They were preserved in the form of dilapidated rounded towers. The north side has three entrances, which are built in the form of two-story approaches. In the niches of these structures, once there were sculptures of gods, Roman emperors and empresses. During the excavations near these gates, some of these sculptures were found. Now these sculptures are on display at the Antalya Archaeological Museum.
A partial reconstruction of the gate was carried out in the 2nd century BC, at the expense of a wealthy and influential person - Plancia Magna. This lady was of noble birth, from a very wealthy Roman family, Marcus Plantius Varus, a Roman senator. Plancia Magna was a priestess of Artemis, and she also held a high position in the hierarchy of Perge, as a priestess of the imperial cult, a member of the magistrate, and also, a gymnasiarch - the head of the Olympic training school for athletes. In her honor, 5 statues were erected in Perge and numerous tablets were preserved, where she is called the “daughter of the city”.
To the left of the Hellenistic gates are the Roman Baths, presumably built in the 2nd century. The Roman Baths are a separate topic for discussion. There are legends and anecdotes about the love of the Romans for bath procedures. The pleasure of visiting the baths was not cheap and accessible, exclusively to noble and wealthy citizens of the city. Here not only bathed and rested, important political and economic issues were resolved here, intrigues and conspiracies were woven - Thermae were an important arena for the players of the upper strata of the population.
The Baths of Perge were considered the largest in Pamphylia. Today it is the best preserved building in the city. Until now, in some places, you can see the decoration of the walls with marble plates and pebble floors.
On the east side of the Hellenistic Gate is the Perga Agora. This is the ancient commercial and cultural center of the city and a place of public meetings, political discontent. It was built in the IV century and covers an area of about 75 square meters. meters. The flooring of the Agora is made of mosaics with geometric patterns. In the center of the Perga Agora, you can see the ruins of a temple.
Beyond the Hellenistic Gate a wide road begins. This is the main street of the city - Arcadian. A wide, marble-paved street stretched from the main gate, and on the sides it was framed by columns. A two-meter-wide water channel flowed in the center of the street, and merchants' stalls were located on the sides.
Arcadian Street is intersected by another wide street running from east to west, at the widened western end of which the ruins of the monumental Palestra can be found.
Palestra is a building designed for sports training and games. Palestra was erected in the middle of the 1st century at the expense of a wealthy resident of Perge - Guy Julius Kornut Brionian.
Palestra Perge was a square, 76 x 76 meters in size - as it should be for similar structures of antiquity, the central part was occupied by an open area surrounded by porticos and auxiliary rooms. Now only the outer walls of Palestra Perge are well preserved.
On the east side of Arcadian Street, in the Byzantine era, an episcopal basilica with two naves was built. In front of the Basilica there were four columns, on which were depicted: Apollo with a crown, Artemis with a torch in his right hand and a bow with arrows in his left hand, Tsalch in a helmet and Tycha - the goddess of happiness.
On the opposite side of Arcadian Street, at the very foot of the Acropolis, there is the Nymphaeum (sacred spring), which is a semicircular structure, presumably built during the reign of Hadrian (130-150). In the center of this huge fountain, 21 meters long and 37.5 meters wide, stood a statue of the god of the river.
Behind the Nymphaeum on the mountain was the Acropolis. The Acropolis is the crown of Perge. Now only one unsightly building remains of it, in which the remains of marble columns and vaulted ceilings are kept, and once it was a very beautiful part of the city.
Asklepion deserves special attention - a treatment center dedicated to the Greek god of health - Asclepius. Here they treated not only the body, but also the soul of the patients. Asklepion was erected in the IV century BC. From the Temple of Asclepius now there are only a few dilapidated walls, and once it was a two-story cylindrical building, decorated with mosaics.
Not far from the Temple of Asclepius is the Temple of Telesphorus, the god of healing, who, in the form of a little boy, accompanied Asclepius. Here, until now, a fountain has been preserved, around which there is a covered gallery with beautiful Ionic columns.
Perge - a stunning place that breathes ancient and tragic. These ruins have passed through the centuries, have seen a lot of good and bad ... Slowly revealing its secrets, Perge will surprise us more than once. And we will be happy to be surprised again ...
Tours to Turkey – specials of the day
I continue my small notes about Turkey. Last time I talked about our trip to the homeland of St. Nicholas, to the city of Demre. And this time you will find a story about the ancient town of Perge, located 17 kilometers east of the center of Antalya. Perge is one of the most ancient cities in the world, and, moreover, relatively well preserved. Well, among other things, in this city, at one time, the apostle Paul read his sermons. Which is confirmed by lines from the Bible.
"Sailing from Paphos, Paul and his companions arrived at Perga, in Pamphylia..."
Acts of the Apostles, chapter 13, verses 13-52.
My sister and I lived in the west of Antalya, and therefore, in order to get on the road leading to Perge, we had to drive a car through the whole city. And although I do not like riding in crowded centers, I must admit that it was interesting to participate in the automotive life of Antalya in its own way.
And since we were driving east, on the way we stopped at the most popular Antalya beach - Lara, where we swam in the sea, and where the same sea dragged one of my shales into its depths. You can read about the impressions that this famous sandy beach made on us at. And we will return to the road to Perge.
We had no luck with her. Having left Lara, we could not get the road we needed and were forced to turn around in the eastern part of Antalya. At the same time, for some reason we did not come across any signs to Alanya, along which we wanted to orient ourselves. And we decided to try to go to the airport, which was also supposed to be located in the area of the eastern exit.
And the day turned out to be incredibly hot, and we escaped from the heat in a tightly battened down car with the air conditioner turned on.
By the time we left for the airport, I was already thoroughly tired of winding circles, besides, I was tired of the trip itself through the city. Perhaps it would be much more pleasant for me to drive another 140 kilometers to than to spin around the city. And even a seditious thought was born on the topic of what could leave this venture with Perge until better times and return to the hotel.
Gradually, we reached the airport and turned away from it somewhere to the east, deciding, just in case, to look for the right road a little more. And to our joy, we soon saw a brown pointer. Perge was only two kilometers away.
And soon we had already left for a small parking lot, near which a paid passage to the territory of the ancient city was equipped. And there were also various stalls with souvenirs. But the day was so hot that even the Turks themselves were incapable of vigorous activity and either slept on the grass or hid. It was very quiet and almost deserted.
We left the car in the shade and went to the ticket office to buy an entrance ticket to the city. And now, after a couple of minutes, we were met by thick ancient walls and numerous cacti that looked like prickly pear. The cacti bore fruit, and the fruits were apparently edible. At least my friend brought me from the Canary Islands a cactus fruit very similar to its Turkish counterparts. By the way, delicious.
But I digress a little. The city met us, as it should be, with gates. Which were built during the Roman period, and now they are, accordingly, called "Roman". It was during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, at the turn of the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
In those days, the city was actively developing and expanding, but it was founded much earlier. Most likely, immediately after the Trojan War, in the XII century BC. According to legend, the founder of the city was the soothsayer Calchas, known from Homer's Iliad.
The city was located 11 kilometers from the sea, which made it possible to protect it from sea raids. And at the same time, Perge was a port city, with the Mediterranean Sea it was connected by the navigable Kestros River, now known as Aksu and fairly shallow. But centuries ago, everything was different, the land was fertile, and the river was full of water. In addition, Perge is well located on the trade route between Side and Ephesus.
All this made Perge the most important point in Pamphylia, as the eastern part of the present Antalya territory used to be called, and its capital.
In the XII century BC, the city was ruled by the Lydians, then the Persians, and in 333 BC the city was taken by Alexander the Great. Well, how taken ... The good-natured Pergians themselves opened the way for Alexander and let Alexander in. Somehow they did not want to fight and defend themselves. And indeed, throughout its existence, Perge managed to avoid any major conflicts.
With the advent of Alexander, the city began to mint a coin with the image of the king. But soon the power changed again. The great commander died, and the Seleucid dynasty gained power over the city. It is said that it was at that time that the temple of Artemis was built in the city, which became widely known far beyond the city. Although the remains of the temple have not yet been discovered.
Outside the Roman gates, we saw many columns lying on the ground in a different, in terms of preservation, condition, as well as other fragments of the past preserved from various times.
A little to the side we saw quite impressive ruins. Once upon a time there was a southern nymphaeum, built in honor of the emperor Septimius Severus with the money of a noble townswoman, and, in combination, the priestess of the goddess Artemis - Aurelius Paulina.
Nymphaeum in ancient times was called fountains and temples dedicated to water nymphs. In the Roman period, the sacred meaning almost completely gave way to the recreational one. Nymphaeums were usually richly decorated fountains that could be located near a water source. Also there could be a water distribution unit and a reservoir.
By comparing the drawing, in which the artists reconstructed the view of the fountain, with the ruins, one can easily find the preserved elements. So, for example, it was interesting to look at parts of the decorative frame restored by Turkish archaeologists. And the arched passage through the fountain, through which one could go to the southern baths, was well preserved.
Next to the arch, you can see the bases of the columns that adorned the fountain, as well as many scattered capitals, which, at one time, crowned their tops.
Also, the fountain was decorated with numerous sculptures. Some of them also survived, but were taken to the archaeological museum in Antalya. Which, so to speak, is more than half filled with finds from Perge.
From the nymphaeum we went to the next gates of the city, this time Hellenistic. That is, built a little earlier than the Roman ones. The gates are two, currently dilapidated, towers behind which there is a niche, partially attached already in Roman times.
Now the gate is surrounded by a small fence and is under reconstruction, which somewhat interferes with the view. But nothing can be done, reconstruction is a necessary thing.
The horseshoe-shaped niches that are behind the towers were added and partially reconstructed at the beginning of the 3rd century, with the money of another famous priestess of Artemis. Her name was Plancia Magna, and she came from a very noble and wealthy Roman family. Her Marcus Plancius Varus was a Roman senator and rose to the position of praetor, and also, under the emperor Vespasian, he was governor of the province of Bithynia, in northwestern Asia Minor. And then he settled in Perge.
There is no doubt that his daughter occupied a very high place in society, she was a priestess of Artemis, the first priestess of the mother goddess, a high priestess of the imperial cult, a demiurge, a gymnasiarch (she led the training and preparation of athletes for the games), and participated in the magistrate. At least five statues were erected in her honor and there are numerous inscriptions where she is referred to only as "the daughter of the city."
In the niches behind the Hellenistic gate, Plantia Magna placed sculptures of Roman gods, emperors, famous public figures, including a sculpture of her father and brother.
And just outside the gate begins a long street, the so-called Arcadian, a wide avenue, along which numerous columns rise on both sides.
Apparently, this street was the central one in the ancient city. There used to be covered porticoes along the street, behind which there were numerous shops.
And in the center of the avenue, a water channel stretches along its entire length. Rather, it was once water. And the townspeople could always freshen up a little on a hot day. The canal was equipped with bridges, through which you can go from one side of the street to the other, and itself consisted of a system of small cascades, which, due to a slight change in height, ensured the movement of water from the northern nymphaeum, located at the very end of the Arcadian, at the foot of the Acropolis.
An amazing thing is life ... Once, more than a thousand years ago, at the very beginning of our era, life was in full swing on this street. In some ways it is completely different from the one in which we live, but in some ways very similar. In the morning, many residents of Perge left their homes and went, some to a handicraft shop, some to a trade shop, some went to the square to listen to the speeches of famous politicians, and some walked slowly around the city and thought about what to do with themselves ... Poverty reigned in the city and luxury, good and evil, love and hatred, passions burned, hearts burned, feelings flared up. Here they were born and died...
Now we are met only by ruins, the remains of mosaics, broken columns, dilapidated walls ... But they are a full-fledged part of that other world, and that other life. It was these columns that were touched by the hands of those very inhabitants of the ancient world who lived here long before our birth, and it was along these streets that their feet stepped. And, probably, part of this life, part of this living energy, was forever preserved in these ruins.
Now, only the feet of tourists, restorers and archaeologists walk along these streets, and only lizards can be called full-fledged residents, which briskly dart between ancient plates ... But it is definitely worth, and definitely worth visiting such places. After all, part of that ancient and living energy is transferred to us, and somehow you begin to look at this whole world with slightly different eyes ...
But my story is by no means finished, we are only in the middle of our walk around Perge. And in the next part, I will tell you about the ancient agora, the northern nymphaeum and the very well-preserved southern baths, a favorite place of noble Roman patricians. And, of course, let's not forget about the local inhabitants of the ancient ruins, about the lizards...
previous parts.