Could you imagine an ancient city so well-defended that even Alexander the Great couldn’t conquer it? That city is Termessos. Welcome.
Termessos sits high in the Taurus Mountains. It is about 1000 meters above sea level. This height offered natural protection. Today, we explore one of Turkey’s best-preserved ancient cities.
Termessos was founded by the Solymi people. Homer mentioned them in the Iliad. They were connected to the legend of Bellerophon. After Alexander the Great, Termessos became part of the Greek world. Under Roman rule, it grew into a thriving city.
In 333 BC, Alexander the Great tried to capture Termessos. He compared the city to an eagle’s nest. The Termessians successfully defended their home. Arrian, an ancient historian, noted the city’s strategic importance. Even a small force could defend it.
Later, in 319 BC, Alexander’s general Antigonos sought to defeat Alcetas. Alcetas sought refuge in Termessos. The elders planned to surrender Alcetas to Antigonos. But the youth of Termessos refused to break their word. Alcetas killed himself. The youth honored him with a monument.
Termessos allied with Rome. In 71 BC, the Roman Senate granted it independent status. The city maintained this freedom for a long time. Coins from Termessos even bear the title “Autonomous”.
The city’s end came with an earthquake. The aqueduct was crushed, cutting off the water supply. Termessos was abandoned. This abandonment explains its remarkable preservation today.
As we approach Termessos, notice the Yenice Pass. This was the ancient “King Street”. The Termessians built it in the 2nd century AD. Inscriptions near the city gate reveal their interest in fortune-telling.
The agora was the city’s main square. It had special architecture. The ground floor was raised on stone blocks. Stoas surrounded the agora on three sides. Attalos II of Pergamon gifted a two-story stoa. Osbaras, a wealthy Termessian, built another one.
East of the agora is the theater. It offers a view over the Pamphylian plain. The theater could seat 4,000 to 5,000 spectators. An odeon, resembling a small theater, lies nearby. It may have served as the council chamber.
Termessos had six temples. One might have been dedicated to Zeus Solymeus, the city’s chief god. Another temple was dedicated to Artemis. A woman named Aurelia Armasta paid for it.
Also of interest is a typical Roman-period house. An inscription praises the owner as the city’s founder. A street with porticoes ran through Termessos. Statues of athletes lined this street.
Cemeteries lie to the south, west, and north of Termessos. Rock-cut tombs fill these cemeteries. One tomb is believed to be Alcetas’.
The sarcophagi reveal details about burials. Wealthy citizens were buried with clothing and jewelry. Inscriptions warned against grave robbers.
Termessos declined and was abandoned in the 5th century. Today, we can still see the walls, Hadrian’s arch, the theater, and more. No formal excavations have been done at Termessos.
As you leave Termessos, remember its resilience. This city defied Alexander the Great and maintained its independence. Its ruins offer a unique glimpse into the past. A past where the spirit of freedom echoes through the stones.