Sillyon Ancient City is one of the important settlements of the Pamphylia Region in the ancient period, located in Kocagözler Mevkii of Yanköy Neighborhood in Serik district of Antalya. It is accepted that the name Sillyon derives from the name Salluša mentioned in Hittite texts and is not of Greek origin. The city stands out among the rare ancient cities in Anatolia that can present traces of all historical periods in the same area.

^{Hellenistic Tower, Sillyon Ancient City Hellenistic Tower, Sillyon Ancient City (Türkiye Culture Portal)}

History

During the Persian rule in Anatolia, Pamphylia also remained under Persian sovereignty, and this situation lasted until the arrival of Alexander the Great. During this period, Sillyon, with its fortified structure, became an epicenter for the Persian navy and garrison troops. According to the ancient writer Arrianus, Alexander the Great came to Pamphylia in 334 BC and besieged Sillyon with a contingent of his army, but failed to capture it.

After Alexander the Great, archaeological data on Sillyon increased during the Hellenistic Period, and it was understood that it showed the character of a city. In the late 4th century BC, Sillyon became an autonomous city minting coins. During the Roman Imperial Period, the city grew and expanded, and a philanthropic family named Menodora made large donations to Sillyon during this period. With the help of Menodora, many religious and public buildings were built in the city, and Sillyon became magnificent.

Sillyon became a bishopric center in Byzantine Pamphylia and maintained this status for a long time. It is known that two patriarchs named Konstantinos and Antonius served from the city. It is also understood that it has an important place in the history of Christianity from the mention of the names of the bishops of the city in different meetings and councils. Neon of Sillyon is mentioned in the Council of Chalcedon and Plusianus of Sillyon in the Council of Constantinople.

Sillyon hosted some historical developments as Karahisar-Teke Castle, one of the important centers of Teke province during the Turkish-Islamic Period, and was inhabited until the 17th century. The Kale Masjid, located at the northwest point of the acropolis, is the greatest evidence of the Turkish-Islamic presence in the city and is among the earliest Turkish-Islamic artifacts in the Antalya Region.

Architectural Structures

The fact that the hilly area where the city was founded was formed from a large rock mass increased the durability of the buildings and ensured that many buildings have survived to the present day.

• Main City Gate and Walls: The Main City Gate is located at the southwestern foot of the acropolis and at the beginning of the ramped street leading to the acropolis. Five towers were built on the walls of the lower city, and four towers were built in different plans for the defense of the acropolis. The Hellenistic Tower in the Lower City is preserved up to the roof level. A gate on the ground floor of the three-storey tower provides a secondary entrance to the city.

• Stadium: Located on the western slope of the city, the Sillyon stadium is the largest stadium in Pamphylia with a length of 254 meters.

• Roman Bath: The Roman Bath, located to the east of the stadium, appears to have consisted of five halls in a row, according to the existing plan scheme. The building was used until the Late Antique Period.

• Castron: Located on the western part of the acropolis, the castron contains a praitorion leaning against the northern wall. The castron, which has battlements on its surviving walls, functioned as the palace of the commander or the administrative center building. It is thought that the castron was built immediately after the city was moved to the acropolis during the Byzantine Period and used as a pavilion during the Turkish-Islamic Period.

• Churches and Theater: Churches A and B are located in the center of the acropolis. The Sillyon Theater, located on the southern part of the acropolis, has a commanding view of the Pamphylian Plain and the Mediterranean Sea. As a result of earthquakes and landslides, the stage building and some of the seating steps of the theater were destroyed, and only 12 seating steps and the west wall remain intact.

• Terrace of Temples: Located to the south of the acropolis of the city, the Terrace of Temples houses majestic temples on two different terraces separated by stairs.