Sagalassos city of dreams 1

MUSTAFA ALİ ÖZAY

CITY OF DREAMS

Human settlement in the area goes back to 8000 BCE, before the actual site was occupied. Hittite documents refer to a

mountain site of Salawassa in the fourteenth century BCE and the town spread during the

Phrygian and Lydian cultures.Sagalassos was one of the wealthiest cities in Pisidia when Alexander the Great conquered it

in 333 BCE on his way to Persia.

The urban site was laid out on various terraces at an altitude between 1400 and

1600 m. After having suffered from a major earthquake in the early sixth century CE, the town still managed to recover, but a cocktail of epidemics, water shortages, a general lack

of security and stability, a failing economy and finally another devastating earthquake around the middle of the seventh century forced the

inhabitants to abandon their town and resettle in the valley.

Antonines Fountain

Antonine Fountain of historical Sagalassos was covered in earth following an earthquake in

500 B.C

Theater

The stage building of this theatre, which could seat some 9000 spectators, was completed

during 180- 210 AD.It is very unusual that the stage building was

only one story high.Despite its construction date, the theatre clearly continues the Hellenstic building tradition (horseshoe-shaped auditorium).

Contemporary buildings have a fully Roman character.

Figure of The Dancing Girls

Antonine Fountain is using for wedding ceramony and jazz concert in these days

Antonine Fountain

Coins of Sagalassos