Editing Side, Turkey (section)

== Monuments and Site ==

The great ruins are among the most notable in Asia Minor. They cover a large promontory which a wall and a moat separate from the mainland. Archaeologists have been excavating Side since 1947 and intermittently continue to do so.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.adiyamanli.org/aspendos.html|title=Aspendos - Perge - Side|access-date=2006-11-19}}</ref>

The colossal theatre complex of the 2nd century is less well-preserved that of [[Aspendos]], but it is almost as large, seating 15,000–20,000 people. It was converted into an open-air sanctuary with two chapels during [[Byzantine]] times (5th or 6th century).

The well-preserved city walls provide an entrance to the site through the Hellenistic main gate (''Megale Pyle'') from the 2nd century BC. 

The colonnaded street had marble columns whose remains can be seen near the Roman baths, restored as a museum displaying statues and sarcophagi from the Roman period. The [[agora]] includes the remains of the round [[Tyche]] and [[Fortuna]] temple (2nd century BC), peripteral with twelve columns, in the centre. In later times it was used as a trading centre where pirates sold slaves. 

The early Roman Temple of [[Dionysus]] is near the theatre. The fountain gracing the entrance is restored. At the left side is a Byzantine Basilica.<ref name="turk"/>

Other buildings include three temples and a [[nymphaeum]], a grotto or fountain building of elaborate design, and a synagogue which was discovered under a modern place of residence.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=7th-century synagogue found under house - T&#252;rkiye News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/7th-century-synagogue-found-under-house-170312 |access-date=}}</ref> 

Excavation teams also found an ancient Greek brothel.<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-archaeologist-complains-after-sponsors-refuse-to-fund-brothel-excavation-101916 Turkish archaeologist complains after sponsors refuse to fund brothel excavation]</ref>

===The aqueduct===

[[File:Aquaeduct at Side 1.JPG|thumb|250px|Aqueduct near Side]]
[[File:Side 1606-043.jpg|thumb|250px|Aqueduct bridge near Oymapinar]]

The [[Roman aqueduct]] dates from 2nd half of the 2nd century AD and is 30 km in length. The aqueduct is special because it has an exceptional number of bridges which are still preserved as well as tunnels. This was because the altitude difference  between source and city is only 36 m, so to make the gradient as high as possible it was necessary to keep the route as straight and short as possible through the hilly terrain, which entailed more expensive bridges (22 in total) and 16 tunnels 100-2260m long.

It was restored in the first half of the 3rd century, financed by Lollianos Bryonianos from Side according to an inscription.

{{Commons category|Side}}