Perge ready to open for visitors

ANTALYA - Anatolia News Agency

Perge was an ancient Greek city in Anatolia and the capital of Pamphylia. Archaeological work in the ancient city has been continuing for 65 years, and many columns along the city’s streets have been successfully restored. Hürriyet photo

The ancient city of Perge in the southern province of Antalya will finally open to visitors by the end of summer following excavations that have revealed a façade, according to a written statement made by the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Thirty-nine workers, seven archaeologists and three restoration experts are working in Perge, which was an ancient Greek city in Anatolia and the capital of Pamphylia. Archaeological work in the ancient city has been continuing for 65 years, and many columns along the city’s streets have been successfully restored during this process.

The Perge excavations are the longest-running in Turkey. Over 65 years, archaeologists have unearthed 20 to 25 percent of the ancient city. The unearthed remains were the most important parts of the city. Among those ruins are two Turkish baths, city gates, an agora, streets, three fountains and some parts of houses.

Archaeologists found mosaics and the street of the ancient city during the latest excavations. For the protection of the artifacts, necessary measures are also being taken in the city. The artifacts will remain covered with sand until the opening of the ancient city.

Original architecture

Water channels that have been unearthed during the excavations have been restored with the original aesthetic architecture of the city, said experts. The experts also worked on taking photographs and drawings and also documenting the latest excavations.

 The façade of the city have revealed two main sculptures from the nympahion part of the ancient city, as well as eight god and goddess sculptures, while the western column of the city’s three friezes were revealed during the latest excavations.

The friezes prove that they belong to Roman era in the 2nd century. They have been protected very well, according to the experts.

Earlier, the excavation team discovered a script, a fountain, a god figure, a sculpture and an Eros sculpture. This year and last year, they unearthed more than 200 sculptures in Perge. The sculptures exhibited at the Antalya Museum are all from Perge.

The team believes that Perge was one of the largest sculpture ateliers in ancient times.

Perge hosted the final process works for sculptures during ancient times.

Ancient Perge, one of the chief cities of Pamphylia, was situated between the Rivers Catarrhactes and Cestrus. Perge’s ruins include a theater, a temple of Artemis and two churches. The temple of Artemis was located outside the town.