Ancient Cities in Turkey
Sagalassos is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in Turkey. It is located in southwest Turkey, more than one hundred kilometers north of the coastal city of Antalya, part of the province of Burdur. Sagalassos was the most important city of ancient Pisidia, located in the Taurus Mountain chain, with the Mediterranean Sea to its south and the Anatolian plateau to its north. The city spreads over south-facing slopes between 1450 and 1600 meters above sea level. The city was surrounded by a series of valleys that were gradually incorporated into its territory.
Sagalassos was conquered by Alexander the Great in 333 BC on his way to Persia. It flourished after joining the Roman Empire in 25 BC. The city was linked to the Anatolian road network and was connected with the interior, with the ports on the western coast of Ionia, and most importantly with those on the Mediterranean coast. The city was an export center for pottery and agricultural products throughout antiquity. After Alexander’s death, the region became part of the territories of Antigonus Monophthalmus, possibly Lysimachus of Thrace, the Seleucids of Syria and the Attalids of Pergamon. The archeological record indicates that locals rapidly adopted Hellenic culture.
Sagalassos; Close to Aglasun, a town of Burdur province characterized by its natural beauties, Sagalassos is known to be the first of the Pisidian cities.
