Location and Geographical Structure of Selge
Selge is one of the ancient mountain cities of the Pisidia region, established on the southern slopes of the Taurus Mountains at an altitude of 1250 meters above sea level.
The route reaches Beşkonak 5 kilometers after turning off the Aspendos junction on the Antalya-Alanya highway. Afterwards, the city is reached via Altınkaya village by crossing the canyon valley connected by the ancient Roman bridge.
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History of the Ancient City
The Ancient City of Selge was dependent on the Lydian Kingdom before the Persian invasion in 547 BC and remained under Persian rule until the arrival of Alexander the Great in 334 BC.
The ancient city received the reward of not causing difficulty to Alexander the Great by gaining independence in the Hellenistic Period and experienced its most brilliant era during the Roman Period. Geographer Strabo reports that the population of the city reached 20000 people during this period.
This brilliant period during the Roman era continued until the Byzantine period when the population Christianized.
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Ruins and Architectural Structures
On the southern hill, fortified wall remnants with towers protecting the city and the main entrance gate of the city can be partially seen.
On the hill to the north of the city walls, there are two temple ruins, one dedicated to Zeus and the other to Artemis.
According to written sources and traces in the field, other ruins in Selge include a marketplace (agora), a monumental fountain building, a necropolis (burial ground), and a church from the Byzantine period.
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