Perge | Antalya, 2005

Located approximately 17 kilometres east of Antalya, in today's Aksu district, Perge was one of the most important cities of ancient Pamphylia. Situated on the fertile plain between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean, its history reaches back to the Early Bronze Age. After Alexander the Great's campaign in Anatolia, the city came under the rule of Hellenistic kingdoms and flourished especially during the Roman Empire. In the second and third centuries AD, its monumental buildings, colonnaded streets, baths, theatre and stadium made it one of the region's leading cities.

One of Perge's most striking monuments is its Hellenistic Gate, dating to the third century BC. The two great circular towers flanking the entrance originally formed part of the city's defences. During the Roman period, the oval courtyard behind them was redesigned and enriched with statues and architectural decoration. Plancia Magna, one of the city's prominent women, played an important role in these improvements. The towers, which still stand to a considerable height, remain among Perge's best-known landmarks.

In Roman times, the city developed around two principal streets that crossed one another. Shops and public spaces stood behind their colonnaded porticoes. A water channel running along the centre of the north–south main street was one of Perge's most distinctive architectural features. The city's elaborate water supply, monumental fountains and baths were notable examples of Roman engineering.

With an estimated capacity of around 12,000 spectators, Perge's stadium is among Anatolia's well-preserved ancient sporting structures. The stone seating surrounding its long arena and the vaulted chambers supporting the stands demonstrate the skill of Roman builders. The theatre, agora and baths also reflect the city's rich social life. An important centre of the cult of Artemis Pergaia, Perge was also renowned for its sculpture. Many statues and reliefs uncovered in excavations are now displayed in the Antalya Museum.

Perge retained its importance during the early Christian period. It was among the cities visited by Saint Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys. Over time, changing economic and political conditions led to its decline. Systematic archaeological excavations began in 1946 under Professor Arif Müfid Mansel and continued in subsequent decades.

When I photographed Perge in 2005, the two great towers of the Hellenistic Gate immediately caught my attention. After photographing these monumental structures from different angles, I turned to the surrounding walls, niches, columns and architectural fragments scattered across the ground. The stadium's extensive seating and vaulted substructures clearly revealed the building techniques of antiquity. Along the colonnaded streets, the paving stones and successive rows of columns still made the ancient urban plan legible.

In my photographs, I sought to document not only the overall appearance of the great monuments but also the smaller details of their stonework. Broken capitals, reliefs, geometric stone paving and walls worn by time were all traces of the city's past. These photographs record Perge as it appeared in 2005 and may also serve as a visual reference for understanding changes to the archaeological site in the years that followed.