ASPENDOS

ASPENDOS, ANTALYA, TURKEY

ASPENDOS, another area in Antalya, about 16 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea was founded around 1000 BC by the Greeks. It is known for having the best preserved theater of antiquity with a diameter of 315 feet, it provides seating for 7000. It was built in 155. The acoustics are amazing in the theater; even the slightest sound made at the center of the orchestra can be easily heard as far as the uppermost galleries.

 

One of the tales that have been passed down from generation to generation is that the came proclaimed that he would have a contest to see what man could render the greatest service to the city; the winner would have the king's daughter in marriage. Artisans of the city began to work; at last from the Dave decision came and McCain had examine all their efforts he designated to candidates. The first of them had succeeded in setting up a system that enabled water to be brought to the city from great distances site aqueducts. The second built the theater.

 

As the king was on the point of siding in favor of the first candidate, he was asked to have one more look at the theater. While he was wandering about in the upper galleries, a deep voice from an unknown source Saying again and again," the king's daughter must be given to me." Astonished, the king looked around for the owner of the voice could find no one. It was of course the architect speaking in a low voice from the stage. In the end it was the architect who won the beautiful girl in the wedding ceremony took place in the theater.

 

The aqueduct, over 1 km long series of arches brought water to the city from the mountains at the North and is one of the rare examples surviving antiquity. The arches were 45 feet high. Near both ends of the aqueduct the water was collected in towers some 30 m high which was distributed to the city.

 

It is truly a magnificent sight; both the aqueduct even though it is overrun with vendors, but I guess it was like that back in the day and the theater.

 

I LOVE TURKEY!!!! And I truly hope and pray that all these beautiful sites will not be destroyed because of the war that's going on in the area.