My town Syedra
To begin with, I want to emphasize that I proudly hail from Syedra. The land where I grew up is located in Cilicia. This is why Syedra holds a very different meaning for me.
As children, we often visited the ancient city of Syedra for picnics. The enchanting atmosphere of that place has always had a profound impact on me. I often wondered why the city was built atop the hill instead of on the plain below. However, when you see the view of the Mediterranean from there, it becomes clear why this location was chosen. It is simply magnificent. The sunrise is stunning, but the sunset? It offers one of the most breathtaking views you can find in Turkey—each day reveals a different masterpiece.
I often ponder the loves, lives, romances, and dramas that must have unfolded in this romantic setting. If no one lives there now, where did the people of this city go? These questions have lingered in my mind for years.
Of course, the choice to build the city here was not solely about romanticism.
Do you think it might be related to security?
It is a wonderful feeling to see Syedra being evaluated very seriously today, visited again by people and brought into tourism. By this article, I would like to congratulate the entire excavation team who contributed to the project.
Location of Syedra
The ancient city of Syedra, located in the Alanya district of Antalya province, was established on the summit of Asar Tepe Hill. Its foothills extend down to the coast, situated approximately 20 km from the district centre. The city centre is 400 meters above sea level, offering an impressive view that captivates visitors even today. This elevated location provided a significant advantage for security in ancient times, allowing the city to monitor a vast area. It could oversee regions from Alanya (known as Korakesion) to Mahmutlar (possibly Nauloi?) in the west, and from the coast of Gazipaşa (referred to as Selinus/Traianopolis) to Demirtaş in the east.
Syedra was situated at the intersection of Pamphylia and Cilicia in ancient times, leading to its classification as part of either region at different periods. It was also included in the Isaura Region for some time. According to ancient sources, we know the following about Syedra’s regional changes: Claudius Ptolemaeus noted that Syedra was among the coastal cities of Pamphylia and indicated that Rough Cilicia (Cilicia Thracia) began at Syedra. Additionally, the 6th-century geographer Stephanos Byzantinus listed Syedra in his list of cities in the Isaura Region. Hierocles and Pseudo-Epiphanius also included Syedra in the list of cities within Pamphylia.
In terms of neighbouring cities, to the west of Syedra are Nauloi (Naula), Laertes, Korakesion, and Hamaxia, while to the east lie Iotape, Selinus, and Antiochia ad Cragum.
History of Syedra
The southern coastal cities of Anatolia have significant port roles in maritime trade, a characteristic that dates back to the Bronze Age.
Are the Bronze Age findings discovered off the coast of Syedra related to the city?
It is difficult to state that Syedra existed during the specified period definitively. Jak Yakar mentioned that after the collapse of the Hittite Empire, rural communities dependent on trade centres or ports needed to reorganize independently. It is likely that Syedra began this reorganization process as early as the 9th century BC, as evidenced by ceramics originating from Cilicia and Cyprus. The information available from ancient sources regarding Syedra is limited. However, insights about other cities provide some clues about its history.
According to Herodotus, Pamphylia was under the rule of the Lydian Kingdom during Croesus’s reign. Babylonian chronicles indicate that this dominance extended to Salame (Selinus) around 557-556 BC. Consequently, Syedra, located west of Selinus, was also under Lydian control in the second quarter of the 6th century BC. Shortly after that, in 546 BC, the Persians, gaining power in the east, destroyed the Lydian Kingdom and took control of Anatolia. This dominance continued until Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Emperor Darius III in 333 BC. Following Alexander’s death, his empire was divided among his generals.
During the ensuing period of conflict, the region fell to the Ptolemies, then to the Seleucids in 197 BC. The Seleucid hold in the area was eventually challenged by Rome and Pergamon. The Treaty of Apameia, signed in 188 BC after the Magnesia War, marked the Seleucid withdrawal from Western Cilicia and Pamphylia. Following the death of King Attalos III of Pergamon in 133 BC, the lands in Anatolia came under Roman control.
By the end of the 2nd century BC, Rome struggled to establish its regional authority, while the Seleucids began to lose their power. Consequently, pirate activities surged, particularly in western Cilicia (Mountainous Cilicia/Cilicia Tracheia). An inscription indicates that Syedra was impacted by these pirate activities in the early 1st century BC and sought a solution by consulting the oracle of Apollo at Claros. The pirate threat in the region was ultimately quelled by Pompey Magnus in 67 BC.
The name of the city emerged during a dramatic event in the Late Hellenistic Period. Pompeius Magnus, a significant military and political figure of Rome, eliminated the pirate threat in the Mediterranean. After losing the war to Julius Caesar in 48 BC, he decided to flee to Egypt, with the port of Syedra in Anatolia as his last stop. Tragically, Pompeius Magnus was killed upon reaching Egypt.
Following the turmoil of the Roman civil wars, a prolonged period of peace began along the southern coasts of Anatolia. Syedra became the first city in the region to mint its own coins at the start of this peaceful era, during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. The legends “CΥEΔΡE/Syedre” and “СΥΕΔΡΕΩΝ- СΥƐΔΡƐΩΝ/Syedreon” can be found on the reverse side of these coins.
During the 2nd century AD, a period of peace and prosperity swept across the entire empire, leaving a notable impact on Syedra and its surrounding areas. This era saw a significant increase in construction, with many of Syedra’s most impressive structures built during this time. Additionally, numerous sports games were organized throughout the Cilicia Region. The discovery of many inscriptions related to these games in Syedra indicates that the city played a prominent role in the region’s sporting events. Most of the inscriptions found in Syedra highlight the names of the competitions and the individuals who received awards.
An inscription indicates that the people of Syedra supported Septimius Severus in his struggle for the throne against Pescennius Niger. This suggests that the city had good relations with the Roman Emperor during the late 2nd century and early 3rd century AD.
In the 3rd century AD, the Sassanid raids disrupted Roman rule. During the conflict in which Emperor Valerian was captured, territories in Syria and Cilicia fell to the Sassanids, who advanced as far as Selinus, causing significant disorder with lasting consequences. At the same time, the Goths and Queen Zenobia of Palmyra invaded Anatolia, while coastal areas were overrun by sea pirates, including the Scythians and Alanians. In the mountainous regions of Isauria, local populations rebelled and attacked the prosperous coastal areas, but these uprisings were suppressed by Emperor Probus. Additionally, during the reign of Gallienus in the 3rd century AD, the minting of coins in Syedra ceased, occurring slightly later than in other cities.
After the provincial arrangements of Diocletianus (285-305 AD), Syedra was the easternmost coastal city on the border of the Isauria Province of Pamphylia. It is possible to evaluate this period as a crisis period due to inflation, tax burden, bureaucratic burdens, economic crisis, migration to the city and oppression of Christians.
Only Perge, Magydos, Aspendos, Syedra, Antioch, and Tarsus from the coastal region, which includes Pamphylia, Isauria, and Cilicia, participated in the Council of Nicaea held in 325 AD. Syedra was referred to as the city of Isaura in this context, and Nestor of Syedra represented the city as bishop. In the Council of Chalcedon, held in 451 AD, Syedra was represented by Bishop Gaius.
The region experienced a period of prosperity beginning in the second half of the 4th century AD and becoming more pronounced in the 5th century AD. During this time, new structures were constructed, and churches were built. However, this period of prosperity ended with a second Sassanid attack, which resulted in the destruction of Antioch and parts of eastern Cilicia.
Following the Sassanid attacks, Arab raids began. The Arabs plundered all cities in their path as they advanced to capture Constantinople in 677/678 AD. Bishop George from Syedra attended a council meeting in Constantinople in 692 AD, and by this time, the city was also listed as part of the Pamphylia province.
During the First Crusade (1096-1099 AD), there was significant activity at sea and along the coast. The absence of Syedra among the castles mentioned in the region may indicate a decline in the city’s importance, reduced coastal connections, and difficulty accessing the sea. Nevertheless, Syedra’s name continued to appear in episcopal lists until the 12th century AD.
The last traces of settled life in the city, which had existed since the 9th century BC, are represented by a few pieces of Anatolian Seljuk pottery. During this period, Syedra might have functioned as a frontier fortress, providing security for Alanya Castle due to its strategic location.
The Name of Syedra
There are two theories regarding the origin of the city’s name. The first theory suggests that the name comes from the Sedre Stream, which is located near the city. The second theory proposes that the name is derived from the cedar trees that were traditionally used in shipbuilding, a practice for which the region is well-known.
Syedra’s Research History
In the 18th century, Western travellers developed a heightened interest in the East, particularly in Anatolia. Initially, these journeys were undertaken as adventures, but they soon evolved into important scientific explorations. As scientists began to participate in these travels during the 18th and 19th centuries, valuable information was gathered. The number of places visited increased, and experts from various fields produced articles and engravings that documented the era just before the widespread destruction of ancient cities began.
It was seen that travellers interested in the ancient period came to the region very frequently due to the richness of the Mediterranean Region. Some of the travellers who visited the cities of Pamphylia and Cilicia stopped by Syedra and provided information about the location of the city. In his publication in 1817, Beaufort did not fail to mention that Syedra was located on a steep hill, which deterred them from visiting, and that the city was far from the coast and its view was respectable. Barker, while discussing the cities of Cilicia in his 1853 publication, particularly mentions that Syedra was famous for its cedar trees and was one of the important port cities in the region.
In their book, Heberdey and Wilhelm documented their trips to the region from 1891 to 1892, during which they examined several inscriptions belonging to Syedra. This study is considered the first conducted in the city. The researchers noted that many tomb structures, now no longer visible, were observed in the lower city at that time.
In 1914, Keil and Wilhelm returned to the region, where they reported on the location, inscriptions, and mosaics of Syedra. E. Honigmann later studied the council lists of Nikaia and Chalcedon and mentioned the bishops of Syedra included in these lists.
From 1960 to 1970, Bean and Mitford conducted epigraphic research in the Cilicia region, revisiting the inscriptions previously examined by Heberdey and Wilhelm in Syedra. They also added and published new inscriptions.
Robert conducted epigraphic research in Anatolia, focusing particularly on the Mediterranean coastal cities. He published his findings in 1966, which included an examination of an inscription from Syedra related to the Ares cult.
In his 1968 article titled *Sur l’Oracle de Claros destiné à la ville de Syédra*, Sokolowski noted that Syedra suffered significantly from pirate attacks. The residents sought counsel from Claros, the oracle centre in Anatolia, to solve this issue. They also implemented guidance from the priest at the Claros Apollon Temple, resulting in the construction of a triple statue series depicting the judgment of Ares. It was believed that this would protect them from further pirate assaults.
Another notable figure who visited Syedra was J. İnan. In his publication on Roman and Byzantine portraits in Anatolia, co-authored with E. Alföldi-Rosenbaum, İnan also examined a male bust found in Syedra.
Hellenkemper and Hild conducted epigraphic research in the Cilicia region in the 1980s. J. Nollé also examined some inscriptions from Syedra in his article Epigraphische und Numismatische Notizen published in 1988.
De Souza also translated and evaluated the prophetic inscription like Sokolowski. In 1998, Tomaschitz compiled and catalogued the Western Cilicia inscriptions. He also included 29 Syedra inscriptions in this catalogue.
Hagel and Tomaschitz compiled 37 West Cilician inscriptions found in Syedra in the same year. These inscriptions were previously published in their work, Repertorium der Westkilikischen Inschriften, and included in a catalogue study.
Between 1994 and 1999, landscaping and cleaning efforts were undertaken in the city under the guidance of the Alanya Archaeological Museum. These activities primarily focused on the collonaded street. Additionally, work was conducted to preserve the Eros mosaic, which smugglers near the city’s port had damaged; this mosaic was subsequently relocated to the museum. The olive workshop located north of the acropolis was also cleaned. During these excavations, Sayar examined a 48-line letter written by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus to the people of Syedra.
In addition to his studies in 1967, Hüber conducted a surface survey in the city between 1990 and 2000. He drafted plans for some of the city’s structures and created a general city plan. Hüber also compared his recent research with studies conducted between 1891 and 1972, providing insights into the current status of the structures.
Hill, while researching Early Byzantine churches in the Cilicia and Isaura regions, noted the presence of a large church in Syedra.
Çalık evaluated sculptures from the Roman Imperial Period in the Cilicia region as part of his doctoral thesis. This thesis includes a male bust dating from 90-100 AD and a seated statue of Zeus from the 2nd century AD, both originating from Syedra. Later, in 2013, R. Özgan discussed the male statue in his book “Roman Portraiture II.” Özgan noted that the statue reminded him of portraits of the young Domitian, and he also…
This is all I have about Syedra’s story, but I know the story is much longer than I have expressed.
I would like to express my gratitude to the head of the excavation team, Assoc. Prof. Dr. H. Ertuğ Ergürer, and his dedicated team for their incredible work in uncovering the ancient city of Syedra. Their efforts have truly brought this historical site back to light.
I can guarantee that visiting the Ancient City of Syedra will be one of the top two activities to do in Alanya. The sunset time is highly recommended.
Have a nice trip.
Editorial – Visit Alanya
Source: https://syedra.org/
Here are the images of the ancient city of Syedra, captured by Yakup Uslu.
