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Perge • Turkey

 

General historical context

 

Located in the historical region of Pamphylia, in southern Turkey, the ancient city of Perge holds an important place in the history of the Mediterranean world. According to certain traditions, the city was founded during the Hittite period, around the second millennium BCE, but truly flourished following Greek colonization during the first millennium BCE. Ancient accounts mention Perge as one of the main foundations of Pamphylia after the great Greek migrations, particularly during the Dorian invasions.

 

Thanks to its particular geographical location, Perge enjoyed strategic access to maritime routes via the Cestrus River (now the Aksu Çayı), which connected it directly to the Mediterranean Sea while protecting it from pirate raids. This advantageous position allowed Perge to thrive in commerce, craftsmanship, and culture.

 

Development under various dominations

 

Over the centuries, Perge was incorporated into several successive empires. After Hittite rule, it fell under the control of the Achaemenid Persians in the 6th century BCE. The conquest by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE marked a turning point, opening the city more widely to Hellenistic influences.

 

Later, Perge experienced a period of rivalry between the Hellenistic kingdoms, notably Pergamon and the Seleucids. Eventually, the city was annexed by Rome in the 2nd century BCE. Under Roman rule, Perge reached its peak, becoming a major regional center and prospering through agriculture, commerce, and artisanal production, particularly textiles and carpets.

 

The progressive Christianization of Anatolia from the 1st century CE also left its mark on Perge. According to religious texts, the apostle Paul is said to have preached there during his first missionary journey.

 

Geographical importance

 

Perge is located approximately 17 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast and about twenty kilometers northeast of present-day Antalya. Its location near a navigable river, combined with a relative distance from the coastline, provided a strategic balance between the commercial advantages of the sea and protection from maritime threats.

 

The Cestrus River served as a vital artery for the city, facilitating the transport of goods and connecting Perge to other commercial centers of the eastern Mediterranean. However, the progressive silting of the river during Late Antiquity contributed to the decline of port activities and the city’s economic retreat.

 

Main monuments

 

The remains still visible at Perge testify to the former grandeur of the city. The site includes a vast ancient theater, a well-preserved stadium capable of accommodating up to 12,000 spectators, several baths, an agora, colonnaded streets, and the remains of an aqueduct that once supplied the city with water.

 

One of the most revered monuments was the temple dedicated to Artemis, a deity particularly honored at Perge. This temple was a major religious center and helped strengthen the city’s fame throughout Pamphylia.

Aspendos and regional connections

 

Near Perge, about twenty kilometers to the east, lies the ancient city of Aspendos. Also founded during the Greek period, Aspendos is famous for its remarkably well-preserved theater and monumental aqueduct. Although Perge and Aspendos shared a common affiliation with Pamphylia and later with the Roman Empire, they were two distinct urban entities historically and administratively.

 

Aspendos is not part of the archaeological site of Perge, but its geographical proximity and heritage importance often lead the two sites to be mentioned together. In the video presented on this page, a few images show elements of the Aspendos aqueduct, an impressive testimony to Roman hydraulic engineering.

 

For a more detailed description of the history, architecture, and monuments of Perge, a dedicated page is available.

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.

 

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.