Aspendos

Aspendos is an ancient city in the region of Pamphylia, in present-day Antalya Province, Turkey, situated on the Eurymedon River near the coast. It was a major Ionian Greek city that gained wealth from trade and agriculture and later became a prosperous Roman city. It minted its own coins and played a role in the region’s politics.

Under Roman rule, Aspendos built substantial public works, including a large theatre and aqueducts. The centerpiece is the Aspendos Theater, a well-preserved Roman theatre dating to the 2nd century CE, renowned for its size, architecture, and acoustics. The theatre retains most of its seating and the two-story stage building, and it can still be used for performances.

Other remains include the ruins of a large aqueduct that carried water to the city from distant sources, a basilica, baths, and remnants of the agora and city walls. By late antiquity the harbor had silted up and Aspendos declined, but the site remained inhabited into the Byzantine era.

In the modern era, Aspendos has become a prominent archaeological site and a destination for visitors; the theatre hosts international cultural events, including summer opera festivals. The site provides insight into the urban planning and public architecture of ancient Pamphylia, highlighting the city’s transition from a Greek trading center to a Roman provincial town.