Attalia

Attalia, also known as Attaleia in Greek sources, was an ancient city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Anatolia, near the site of the modern city of Antalya, Turkey. It was founded in the 2nd century BCE by Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamon and named in his honor. The city developed into a major port and urban center in the region of Pamphylia, serving as a key link between the interior and the sea.

Under Roman and later Byzantine rule, Attaleia remained an important harbor and administrative hub. The city was fortified and continued to function as a strategic coastal settlement, sustaining its economic and military role through successive periods of political change in antiquity and late antiquity. In medieval times, control of the site shifted with the rise of Turkish powers in the region, and it eventually came under Seljuk and later Ottoman influence.

The modern Turkish city of Antalya occupies the site of ancient Attaleia. The name Antalya is generally regarded as a Turkish adaptation of Attaleia. Today, remnants of Attaleia’s past survive in the urban fabric and archaeological remains around Antalya, including fortifications, theaters, and gates, which reflect its long history as a maritime center on the eastern Mediterranean.