Editing Side, Turkey (section)

==History==

[[Pseudo-Scylax]],<ref>[https://topostext.org/work/102#101 Pseudo Scylax, Periplous, 101]</ref> [[Strabo]] and [[Arrian]]<ref>Arrian, The Anabasis of Alexander, book I, chapter XXVI, 4</ref> record that Side was founded by [[Greeks|Greek]] settlers from [[Cyme (Aeolis)|Cyme]] in [[Aeolis]], a region of western [[Anatolia]]. This most likely occurred in the 7th century BC. A basalt column base from the 7th century BC found in the excavations and attributable to the [[Neo-Hittite]]s is evidence of the site's early history.

Possessing a good harbour for small craft, Side's natural geography made it one of the most important trade centres in the region.

Its [[tutelary deity]] was [[Athena]], whose head adorned its coinage.

Excavations have revealed several inscriptions written in the [[Sidetic language|language of Side]]. The inscriptions, dating from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, remain undeciphered, but testify that the local language was still in use several centuries after colonisation.

===Macedonian Rule===

[[File:Side - Vespasian Gate.jpg|thumb|250px|Vespasian Gate]]
[[File:Side TH au.JPG|thumb|250px|The ancient theatre]]

[[Alexander the Great]] occupied Side without a struggle in 333 BC. Alexander left only a single garrison behind to occupy the city.  This occupation, in turn, introduced the people of Side to [[Hellenistic]] culture, which flourished from the 4th to the 1st century BC.  After Alexander's death, Side fell under the control of one of Alexander's generals, [[Ptolemy I Soter]], who declared himself king of [[Egypt]] in 305 BC.  The [[Ptolemaic dynasty]] controlled Side until it was captured by the [[Seleucid Empire]] in the 2nd century BC.  Yet, despite these occupations, Side managed to preserve some autonomy, grew prosperous, and became an important cultural centre.


In 190 BC a fleet from the Greek island [[city-state]] of [[Rhodes]], supported by [[Roman Empire|Rome]] and [[Pergamon|Pergamum]], defeated the Seleucid King [[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus the Great]]'s fleet, which was under the command of the fugitive [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] general [[Hannibal]].  The defeat of Hannibal and Antiochus the Great meant that Side freed itself from the overlord-ship of the [[Seleucid Empire]]. 

===Post-Seleucid Rule===
[[File:Tetradrachm from Side 201-190 BC depicting winged Victory now in Palais de Rumine.jpg|thumb|[[Tetradrachm]] from Side, 201-190 BC, depicting [[Nike (mythology)|winged Victory]]. Now in [[Palais de Rumine]], Lausanne, Switzerland]]

The [[Treaty of Apamea]] (188 BC) forced Antiochus to abandon all European territories and to cede all of Asia Minor north of the Taurus Mountains to [[Pergamum]]. However, the dominion of Pergamum only reached de facto as far as [[Perga]], leaving Eastern [[Pamphylia]] in a state of uncertain freedom. This led [[Attalus II Philadelphus]] to construct a new harbour in the city of [[Attalia]] (the present Antalya), although Side already possessed an important harbour of its own. Between 188 and 36 BC Side minted its own money, [[tetradrachm]]s showing [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] and a laurel wreath (the sign of victory).

In the 1st century BC, Side reached a peak when the [[Cilician pirate]]s established their chief naval base and a centre for their [[Slavery|slave-trade]].

===Romans===

[[Image:Main Street in Side.jpg|thumb|250px|The main street is lined with the ruins of homes or shops, many of which feature their original [[mosaic]] flooring]]
[[File:Sidef 052.jpg|thumb|Hospital dating to the 6th century.]]

The consul [[Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus (consul 79 BCE)|Servilius Vatia]] defeated these brigands in 78 BC and later the Roman general [[Pompey]] in 67 BC, bringing Side under the control of Rome and beginning its second period of ascendancy, when it established and maintained a good working relationship with the Roman Empire.<ref name="turk">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.turkishodyssey.com/places/medit/medit3.htm
 |title       = Side - History of the City
 |access-date  = 2006-11-19
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061114034707/http://www.turkishodyssey.com/places/medit/medit3.htm
 |archive-date = 2006-11-14
}}</ref>

Emperor [[Augustus]] reformed the state administration and placed Pamphylia and Side in the Roman province of [[Galatia]] in 25 BC, after the short reign of [[Amyntas of Galatia]] between 36 and 25 BC. Side began another prosperous period as a commercial centre in [[Asia Minor]] through its trade in olive oil.  Its population grew to 60,000 inhabitants. This period would last well into the 3rd century AD. Side also established itself as a slave-trading centre in the [[Mediterranean]].  Its large commercial fleet engaged in acts of piracy, while wealthy merchants paid for such tributes as public works, monuments, and competitions as well as the games and gladiator fights. Most of the extant ruins at Side date from this period of prosperity.

Side was the home of [[Eustathius of Antioch]], of the philosopher [[Troilus (philosopher)|Troilus]], of the fifth-century ecclesiastical writer Philip; of the famous lawyer [[Tribonian]].<ref name="ce">''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]], 1907-1912, ''s.v.'' 'Sidon'</ref>

===Decline===

Side began a steady decline from the 4th century on.  Even defensive walls could not stop successive invasions of highlanders from the Taurus Mountains. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Side experienced a revival, and became the seat of the Bishopric of Eastern Pamphylia.  Arab fleets, nevertheless, raided and burned Side during the 7th century, contributing to its decline. The combination of earthquakes, Christian zealots and Arab raids, left the site abandoned by the 10th century, its citizens having emigrated to nearby Attalia.<ref name="turk"/>

In the 12th century, Side temporarily established itself once more as a large city. An inscription found on the site of the former ancient city shows a considerable [[Jewish]] population in early [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] times. However, Side was abandoned again after being sacked.  Its population moved to [[Attalia]], and Side became known as Eski Adalia 'Old Antalya' and was buried.

===Ecclesiastical history===

As capital of the [[Roman province]] of [[Pamphylia Prima]], Side was ecclesiastically the [[metropolitan see]]. The earliest known bishop was Epidaurus, presiding at the [[Synod of Ancyra]], 314. Others are John, fourth century; Eustathius, 381; Amphilochius, 426-458, who played an important part in the history of the time; Conon, 536; Peter, 553; John, 680-692; Mark, 879; Theodore, 1027-1028; Anthimus, present at the synod held at Constantinople in 1054; John, then counsellor to the Emperor [[Michael VII Ducas]], presided at a council on the worship of images, 1082; Theodosius and his successor Nicetas, twelfth century. John, present at a synod at Constantinople in 1156. The ''[[Notitiae Episcopatuum]]'' continued to mention Side as a metropolis of Pamphylia until the thirteenth century. It does not appear in the "Notitia" of [[Andronicus III]]. In 1397 the diocese was united with that of [[Antalya|Attalia]]; in 1400 the Metropolitan of [[Perge]] and Attalia was at the same time the administrator of Side.<ref>This section contains text from the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] of 1907-1912, a work in the public domain</ref>{{Citation needed|date=January 2015|reason=The name of the entry is needed: there is none bearing the title "Side"}}

No longer a residential see, Side is today included in the [[Catholic Church]]'s list of [[titular see]]s.<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 971</ref>