URARTU Carpet

Side is to be reached by turning rigt 3 km before Manavgat on the Antalya Alanya highway. The exactdate of its founding is not known. In the language of Anatoliai, "Side" means Pomegrnate. From inscriptions it appears that Side dates back to the Hittites. The city was constructed on a peninsula and was a Hellinistic and Roman town, protected by city and sea walls. One's attention is particularly drawnto the city gates and walls. as well as the many remains of aqueducts which brought water from the Tauros mountain foothils and surrounding country. The old baths have been restored and turned into a museum, in which are exhibited some of the statues and art treasures found in Side. One of its most important buildings is its 15000 spectator theatre. The difference between this Roman theatre and other antique theatres in the region is that it is not built againts a hillside. The 2 storey theatre, built on a series of arches, is 20 m high. The orchestra and stage are in state of ruin. Rainwaterchanels run underthe theatre. Side has colonnaded strees, a triumphal arch, harbour, baths, fountains, cisterns, aquaducts, temples and a agora.