The Legend of Sillyon

According to one legend surrounding the ancient city and fortress of Sillyon, the settlement was founded as a colony originating from Argos. Another legend holds that the city was established alongside Side and Aspendos by the seers Mopsos, Calchas, and Amphilochus following the Trojan War. All these accounts shape the ancient narratives regarding the origins of the site.

As noted in ancient sources and legendary traditions, this settlement atop a steep hill stands out for its strategic position. Its native Greco-Pamphylian name was recorded as Selywiys, which possibly derives from the original Hittite word Sallawassi. Today, the area is called Yanköy Hisarı or Asar Köy by the local population, carrying a deep historical legacy.

Due to its location on a steep-edged hill, Sillyon did not require complete encirclement by city walls. Defensive walls, towers, and ramparts featuring meticulous stonework and high technical expertise were erected only along the western and southwestern sections where the slope is gentlest. The main city gate is located on the western walls, complemented by paths leading up to the acropolis.

First mentioned around 500 BC, the city became part of the Delian League starting from 469 BC. Historical records note that in 333 BC, Alexander the Great unsuccessfully besieged the site, having to abandon the attempt due to its strong garrison and fortifications. During the Seleucid period, the city underwent extensive rebuilding, particularly its theatre.

The city maintained an attested continuous tradition of minting its own coins from the early 3rd century BC up to the reign of Roman Emperor Aurelian. Early coins featured motifs associated with Apollo and inscriptions in the native Pamphylian alphabet, which were later hellenized under Roman suzerainty. These coins highlight the autonomous and prosperous nature of the city.

Rising to prominence under the Byzantine Empire, Sillyon is mentioned as the site where an Arab fleet was destroyed by a storm in 677 or 678. As the seat of an imperial representative located at the start of the great public road linking to Constantinople, it began to eclipse Perge. The city eventually fell to the Seljuks in 1207.

Visitors to Sillyon today encounter ruins dating from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk eras. Remains of houses and streets lie to the northwest of the plateau, while a Seljuk mosque, a Byzantine church, and a cistern stand to the west. At the southwestern foot, the 8.000-seat theatre and odeon ruins can be observed.

The steep and rocky nature of the plateau has made the site vulnerable to landslides over time. Although parts of structures such as the theatre and amphitheatre have tumbled due to these geological shifts, the historical and archaeological grandeur of the site continues to captivate visitors.