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Anatolia, the Asian part of present-day Turkey, is a region with a very rich past. A multitude of small states came into being in very remote times. Most of the names of these communities, often created around the Greek colonies, are nowadays completely forgotten by ordinary mortals. This is the case of Pamphylia which is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea in the region of present-day Antalya in Turkey. Ruins of two important cities are still visible today.

Perge

Perge was the capital of Pamphylia. Connected to the sea by the Kestros River, Pergé could take advantage of port activities without fear of pirate attacks, since the site is about 17 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. 

The city was founded by the Hittites in the second millennium BC. 

Already in the 12th century BC, the Greeks founded colonies on the Anatolian coasts, giving rise to Pamphylia. 

Pergé was founded around the year 1000 BC. 

In -546, the Achaemenids, a Persian dynasty, seized the city and remained there until the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. 

After years of incessant struggles between the kingdom of Pergamon and that of the Seleucids, it was finally the Romans who took possession of it. Perge continued to expand and was considered the largest city in Anatolia during the first two centuries AD. During the Roman period, Pergé was a prosperous city with a population of over 100,000. The city was known for its large theatre, stadium, baths and aqueduct, as well as for its temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The inhabitants of Pergé were also known for their production of carpets and textiles. 

Pergé was also an important place of Christianity in its early days. Saint Paul gave his first sermon there and the city became the seat of the first Christians until the 6th century. 

The city began to decline as the Cestrus River that connected it to the sea silted up, gradually impeding boat traffic. 

The coup de grace was given by the Arab incursions of the 7th century and the city gradually emptied of its inhabitants and was abandoned. The Arabs pillaged many towns in the region, and Perge was no exception to these practices. The city was extensively damaged, and the remains of houses and monuments contributed to the obstruction of the canals bringing drinking water into the city. 

They also brought Islam, a new religion at the time, and had little respect for the pagan constructions of the region.

Aspendos

Another colony founded by the Greeks about forty kilometers from Perge is Aspendos. Aspendos has the best preserved ancient theater but we didn't visit it.

In this film, there are some images of the aqueduct of Aspendos built by the Romans to bring water to the city.

about the place, Perge:

Located about twenty kilometers from Antalya in Turkey, the ancient city of Perge is a remarkable archaeological site which tells a long story of more than 3000 years. Turkey has a large number of remarkable sites. Although located near major tourist centers on the Mediterranean Sea, Perge seems to resist the onslaught of mass tourism... for our greatest happiness.

Spoken comments in the film: 

Perge is an ancient Greek city abandoned around the beginning of the 8th century. It was founded around 1000 years before our era and was the capital of Pamphylia. It was also one of the first Christian religious centers and Saint Paul gave his first sermon there.

The stadium dates from the 2nd century and the arcades supporting the stands housed the stalls of local traders.

A few kilometers from Pergé is another important town, Aspendos, of which here are the ruins of the aqueduct.

Music:

 - YouTube video library - For Originz, (© For Originz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100700

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Disclaimer: Despite its appropriateness, copyright issues prevent the use of turkish traditional music in "Perge, ancient Greek city • Turkey", hence the use of royalty-free music. Despite our careful selection, some might regret this decision, which is necessary to avoid potential lawsuits. Although difficult, this decision is the only viable solution.