Aspendos Ancient City, in Serik, Antalya, is one of Turkey’s most important cultural sites, famous for the amphitheatre that — according to the story — two brothers built in a contest for a woman.
Aqueduct, baths, shops, a stadium and the amphitheatre draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Founded by Achaeans in the 10th century BC on two hills, it sat on a trade route. The theatre was built in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Zenon and is considered the best-preserved ancient theatre to reach us. It has a story of its own.
The king of Aspendos had a beautiful daughter and could not decide whom she should marry. He announced that whoever did the most useful thing for the people and the city would marry her. The twin sons of Theodorus built two great works: aqueducts that brought water from far away over a clever route, and an amphitheatre so well designed that a coin dropped on the stage could be heard from the top row. The king first favoured the brother who built the aqueducts, then heard a whisper from the upper seats — “The king should give his daughter to me” — and the acoustics of Zenon’s theatre won him over. The two-storey marble stage front, with 40 columns and niches for statues, is the most striking part. About 15,000 people can sit; concerts and plays are still held.
The next most important remains are the aqueducts: about 1 km long, 15 metres high, bringing water from northern mountains into 30-metre towers at each end for distribution through the city.
Used as a caravanserai in the Seljuk period, Aspendos was restored on Ataturk’s order during his 1930 Antalya visit and opened to visitors. If you plan Antalya, put this theatre on the route.
From the Antalya–Alanya road, take the north turn at kilometre 43–44 and continue about 2 km.
