Archaeological excavation work on the approximately 390-meter-long historical street in the ancient city of Side, located in Antalya's Manavgat district, has been successfully completed. These excavations, carried out within the scope of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's 'Heritage for the Future' project, are of great importance in revealing the city's urban transformation and architectural splendor, spanning from the Roman Empire to Late Antiquity.
Within the scope of the works, a stoa (colonnaded gallery) dating back to the 2nd century CE was identified on the northern facade of the street, with numerous living spaces located behind this structure. The most striking findings of the excavations are the three monumental entrances, arranged from west to east: the West Gate, the Gate of Heracles, and the North Bath Gate.
Mythological Reliefs and Spolia
Among the monumental gates, the Gate of Heracles particularly stands out with its rich ornamentation. In addition to reliefs dating to the early 3rd century CE depicting the Twelve Labors of Heracles, the structure also features depictions of mythological figures such as Athena, Zeus, Artemis, Hygeia, and Tyche. Archaeologists have determined that these valuable reliefs were reused as spolia during the construction of the gate in Late Antiquity.
City Axis Altered with the Bishop's Palace
It is understood that the street layout in the area underwent a significant change in the 5th century CE. With the construction of the Bishop's Palace complex, some of the old entrances were closed, and new monumental passages were created on the northern stoa. This resulted in the creation of a highly magnificent and monumental transportation axis that welcomed visitors entering the city from the direction of the East Gate.
These comprehensive excavation, conservation, and restoration works at the ancient city of Side continue uninterrupted as part of the effort to preserve the region's cultural heritage [1]. Thanks to the accelerated restoration projects in recent years, the ancient city is undergoing a significant transformation, presenting a more comprehensible face to visitors [2]. These efforts are being expanded to encompass not only the streets but also the lanes leading to the city's second main gate and surrounding structures [3].
The new findings represent a significant milestone in the goal of preserving and transmitting Side's multi-layered historical structure to the future. The uncovering of the ancient street and monumental gates offers new data for Mediterranean archaeology and significantly contributes to the city's tourism potential.