Work has begun to uncover the theater of the ancient city of Syedra, located in the Alanya district of Antalya, which dates back 3,000 years.
Syedra, located on the western border of the Cilicia region, has held significant strategic and commercial importance. During the reign of Roman Emperor Tiberius (14-17 AD), the city began minting its own coins, further enhancing its importance among other cities of the period.
The name of the city first appeared in inscriptions from the time of Emperor Tiberius. Syedra continued to exist until the 13th century and is notable today for its remains, which include a council chamber, baths, infrastructure systems for clean water, pools, cisterns, the Colonnaded Street, and caves known as the Source and Baptism.
Archaeological excavations in Syedra, which bear traces of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Anatolian Seljuk periods, have been ongoing for six years under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ertuğ Ergürer, a faculty member at the Faculty of Tourism at Alaaddin Keykubat University.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ertuğ Ergürer stated that they have revitalized the Colonnaded Street, which is centrally located in the city, and uncovered the roads connected to it. He also mentioned that for the first time in their sixth season, they have begun work on the theater.
Ergürer stated, “We know that most people went to the theater during the Roman period. In this sense, we were aware of the semicircular walls of the city’s theater when looking at aerial photographs. This year, we conducted a comprehensive cleaning effort. We completely cleared the surrounding vegetation and revealed the structure.”
He added, “We established a connection to the theater through a walking path and focused on filling works in the theater. The work in the theater has reached a certain level. Our theater, which has a capacity of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people, was a point of interest for visitors. In the coming years, we will intensify our efforts to reach the seating rows and stage sections.”