Perge Ancient City

Under the warm Mediterranean sun, located in the Aksu district of Antalya, the ancient city of Perge stands as a significant part of Anatolia’s cultural and civilizational heritage. Shedding light on the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, this ancient city is not merely an archaeological site but a living testament to the past—with its religious structures, political history, geographical location, and striking architecture.

Geographical Location and Importance

Perge is situated approximately 18 kilometers from Antalya city center, near the Aksu River (known in antiquity as the Kestros). This location provided access to fertile agricultural lands as well as to maritime trade routes. Although it lacked a direct harbor, the city connected to the sea through the Kestros River, which enabled it to thrive economically and strategically. Its inland position also offered natural protection against pirate attacks.

Religious History

Perge was especially renowned for its cult of Artemis Pergaia. A large temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis served as the religious center of the city. This sanctuary was considered one of the most sacred places not only in Perge but throughout the Pamphylia region. Artemis Pergaia was revered here as a nature-controlling, fertile, and warrior-like goddess. Festivals, religious ceremonies, and prophecy-based rituals held around the temple added great spiritual importance to the city.

During the Roman Empire, Christianity began to spread in the region. It is known that St. Paul visited Perge in the 1st century, making it a significant location in the early history of Christianity. By the Byzantine period, Perge had become a bishopric center, and several churches were constructed throughout the city.

Political History

Perge’s history dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. Initially influenced by the Hittites, the city later came under the rule of the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Seleucids, the Kingdom of Pergamon, and finally the Roman Empire. During the Hellenistic period, the city was fortified with walls and adopted an organized urban layout. Under Roman rule, Perge experienced a golden age, becoming one of the most prominent administrative and commercial centers in the region.

Structures built during the Roman era—such as the stadium, theater, agora, and bathhouses—reflect the city's prosperity and centralized political structure. The city council and local administrators operated under Roman law, maintaining loyalty to the emperors. In the Byzantine period, the rise of religious authority slightly diminished the city's political significance, but it remained spiritually influential.

Architectural Features

Perge’s architecture reflects the artistic and technical knowledge of its time. Excavations have revealed that the city exemplifies classical Roman urban planning. The main street (cardo maximus) is paved with marble, lined with columns, and features a central water channel. It was the beating heart of public life.

• The Theater: With a capacity of about 15,000 spectators, the theater is an impressive structure adorned with mythological reliefs.
• The Stadium: One of the best-preserved ancient stadiums, it could host up to 12,000 people.
• The Agora (Market Square): The hub of commerce and social interaction, the agora was surrounded by colonnaded porticoes.
• Bath Complexes: These Roman baths, with their advanced heating systems, were key to the city’s social life.
• The Hellenistic Gate: One of the city’s symbols, this semicircular monumental entrance was also part of the defense system.
• The Temple of Artemis: Though not fully standing today, its foundations and remnants demonstrate the city's deep devotion to the goddess.

Conclusion

Perge Ancient City is not just a tourist attraction but a unique laboratory for understanding the multi-layered history of Anatolia. Interweaving religious rituals, political transformations, and architectural marvels, this ancient city stands as an open-air museum, carrying the traces of the past into the present. With its religious structures shaped by the worship of Artemis and public buildings that reflect the grandeur of Roman rule, Perge holds a special place in Turkey’s cultural heritage inventory.