SAGALASSOS
The ancient ruins of Sagalassos are situated 7 km
from the town of Aglasun in the province of Burdur. The city lies
on Mount Akdag, a spur of the Western Toros range, at an altitude
of between 1450 and 1700 metres. Human settlement in the area goes
back to 12,000 BC, and Sagalassos itself reveal traces of settlement
going back to 3000 BC. Around 1600 it became part of Pisidia, but
otherwise its history remains wreathed in mist until the arrival
of Alexander the Great in 334 BC. Sagalassos was renowned for its
courageous and warlike inhabitants, who put up a vigorous defence
against Alexander’s army. The city was finally conquered after
the loss of five hundred lives in a battle which took place on a
hilltop facing the city.Sagalassos enjoyed a period of prosperity
after Alexander, and throughout the Hellenistic period (333-25 BC)
was the second most important city of Pisidia. In 25 BC Sagalossos
became part of the Roman Empire and in the 1st century AD became
the foremost city of the region.
From then until the early 3rd century the city enjoyed
a golden age and many magnificent buildings were constructed here.
In 518 AD a violent earthquake struck. Although the city was subsequently
rebuilt, another earthquake in the 7th century destroyed not only
the city but its water sources. Lack of water and disease were compounded
by the Arab incursions, and finally the city was abandoned altogether.
Landslides from Mount Akdag gradually buried much of the city and,
thus protected, Sagalassos lay concealed in hibernation for long
centuries.In 1706 the French traveller Paul Lucas arrived in Sagalassos,
which he describes as a city of enchantment. Not until 1824 did
the British cleric Francis Arundell discover the city’s true
identity. In 1985 a team of British researchers led by Stephen Mitchell
visited the site, and the following year they were joined by Belgian
archaeologist Prof Dr Marc Waelkens, the man who was to awaken Sagalassos
from its centuries of oblivion.When Waelkens and Mitchell carried
out surface exploration at this remote site like an eagles eyrie
high in the mountains,they were astounded not only by the ruins
but by the spectacular view over the green plain. Thanks to the
city’s inaccessibility the ruins had not been plundered for
building material or by antiquity hunters, and remained so remarkably
intact that Marc Waelkens was overcome by excitement. This was the
site of his dreams, and immediately he obtained the necessary permits
to carry out excavations. With the financial and technical support
of Leuven Catholic University in Belgium where he taught, excavations
went ahead in 1990.
Waelkens invited experts in a range of fields from various countries
to join the large team, and within ten years - a brief period in
archaeological research terms - most of Sagalassos was revealed
and reconstruction of some buildings had commenced.The principle
structures uncovered by the excavations are a Doric temple (1st
century BC), a late Hellenistic fountain (1st century BC), the Neon
Library (second century AD), a bouleuterion or assembly building
seating two hundred people (125-100 BC), the upper and lower agoras
(2nd century BC), a heroon (hero’s memorial) thought to commemorate
Alexander the Great dating from the reign of Augustus (14 AD), Temple
of Apollo Clarios (0-20 AD), Temple of Antinius Pius (120-140 AD),
Antonines Fountain (161-180 AD), a theatre seating nine thousand
people which is the highest in the world (2nd century AD), Roman
bath (2nd century AD), and a public lavatory accommodating forty
people.
The first two years of work were devoted mainly
to the Neon Library and the mosaic pavement in front of this building,
and to the late Hellenistic fountain. Almost all the architectural
elements of both library and fountain were in situ, and between
1992 and 1997 architectural restorers Semih Ercan and Teresa Patricio
reconstructed both buildings. At the same time, the water source
which had fed the fountain was unblocked, so that it began to flow
again. This is the first time in Turkey that the original function
has been restored to an antique structure.
Since 1997 work has focused on the area around the
upper agora, which formed the central hub of Sagalassos, and the
Antonines Fountain on the north side of the agora. The façade
of this imposing fountain is like a theatre proscenium, with niches
containing statues made in Aphrodisias and Afyon Incehisar. It is
estimated that work on the fountain will be completed in five or
six years time, restoring it to its original glory.
Two splendid statues of the god Dionysus, 2.65 and
2.45 metres high respectively, and statues of various sizes representing
august citizens of Sagalassos discovered during excavation of the
fountain are today exhibited in Burdur Museum. When the restoration
work being carried out by Semih Ercan is complete, replicas of these
statues will be placed on the fountain, and the water main linking
it to the Hellenistic fountain restored so that the water will flow
here again. The 14 metre high heroon in the upper agora is another
important structure which will be rebuilt, and restoration is underway
by a team led by Ebru Torun Popleme.
The most striking feature of the heroon is a frieze
depicting women dancing in a trance, with draped cloths and musical
instruments in their hands. Conservation work is still continuing
on this frieze, whose Hellenistic folds are superbly sculpted.
When the area around the upper agora is completed, visitors will
be able to gain a fuller perception of Sagalassos. Once again the
city will gleam like a pearl set in the rocky heights of the Toros.
Sagalassos is 110 kilometres from Antalya Airport, and is also within
easy reach for those travelling between Antalya and Pamukkale or
Antalya and Cappadocia. It is just 30 kilometres from the cities
of Burdur and Isparta. If you visit Sagalassos between 1 June and
1 September, you will be able to watch the archaeologists at work
and enjoy a free guided tour by by volunteers in English, French,
German and Flemish.
* Sengül Gündogan Aydingün is an
archaeologist and art historian
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