Selge Ancient City is one of the most important settlements of the Pisidia region, located within the borders of Antalya ‘s Manavgat district. According to the historian Strabon, the city, which was founded at the end of the 2nd millennium BC, is the first city in which money was minted in the Pisidia region, known today as Antalya.
This road, which reaches the ancient city, which is located 11 km from the Selge Ancient City turn from the Oluk Köprü location of Köprülü Canyon by climbing the mountains, has a very special view with cypress forests, fairy chimneys, man rocks, devil rocks, oleanders and interesting landforms.
The most important structure of the city, which trades through the port of Aspendos at the mouth of the river (Köprüçay), is the ancient theater. Selge, where the air temperature is 10 degrees lower than the places at sea level in summer, is also preferred to take a break from the sweltering heat.
Selge Ancient City , Antalya
Selge Ancient City is one of the lesser known ancient cities of Turkey . The ancient city, located within the borders of Altınkaya (Zerk) District of Manavgat district of Antalya, can be reached by following a 55 km asphalt road following the Köprüçay River to the north, starting from the Tağıl junction of the Antalya-Manavgat Highway. The ancient city is 80 km away from the town center of Manavgat.
According to the historian Strabon, Selge, which is mentioned among the important cities of the Pisidia region, was founded during the Doric migrations towards the end of the 2nd millennium BC. Selge has the title of the first city where money was minted in the Pisidia region, which includes the Lakes Region and Antalya today. It is understood from the name Estlegiiys on the coins that Selge was a native Anatolian city.
Selge had a connection with the cities of Pamphylia through the Eurymedon (Köprüçay) Valley in the ancient period when it lived its bright days. The city, which carries out its trade with the port of Aspendos at the mouth of the river, became commercially stronger with the monetary union it established with Aspendos. The city, which was connected to the Lydian Kingdom until the Persian invasion in 547 BC, remained under Persian rule until the invasion of Alexander the Great in 334 BC.
The city, which surrendered without any resistance upon the arrival of Alexander in the region, received the reward of this silence by gaining its independence in the Hellenistic Period (330 BC-30 AD). The city, whose population reached 20 thousand during the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) period, came under the rule of the Turks in the 13th century.
Among the ruins that have survived in Selge are the city walls, acropolis, gymnasium, stoa, stadium and basilica. In addition, the basic structures of both temples can be seen. The strongest building that has survived in the ancient city is the theater, which was restored in the 3rd century AD. Many ancient structures belonging to the ancient city of Selge can be seen on the road following the Köprüçay River.
Structures such as Kemer Bridge, Böğrüm Bridge, Ancient Road, garrison buildings, waterway and chapel are intertwined with Altınkaya Village, where Selge is located today. Since 57 of the houses in the village are located in the protected area, the local people are forced to migrate out of the village.
Selge is within the borders of Köprülü Canyon National Park , which is a protected area with high landscape value, with forests that host many endemic species, canyons where you can witness natural wonders .
