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ATRACTIONS
AROUND BELEK |
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...Selge
was an important Pisidian city. It lies on the southern
slopes of the Taurus in a naturally fortified spot difficult
of access. It is reached by a forest road that climbs past
cliffs, rivers, and small waterfalls, then passes over a
Roman bridge.Selge lay on three hills surrounded by a fortification
wall. This wall, of which a portion survives today, had
seven main entrances andhigh towers spaced at intervals
averaging 100 metres. The first ruin visible today is the
Greco-Roman type theatre, which forms part of the modern
day village of Zerk. Immediately to one side of the theatre
one can trace the outlines of the opposing rows of seats
belonging to the stadium, even though it is, on the whole,
in a very ruinous state. The remains of two temples can
be found atop the highest hill to the west. It is more than
likely that this is the Kasbedion mentioned by Polyios.
In that case, the large 17x34 metre peripteral temple must
have been that of the city's chief god, Zeus. As for the
small temple with the templum in antis plan, this can be
tentaviely assigned to Artemis on the basis of an inscription
found nearby. Behind this hill is a giant round cistern,
built not only for rainwater, but also to hold water brought
by a channel coming from the nort-west. Between this hill
and the other hills to the south-east, lie the other principal
municipal buildings. Here on an incline lie the extremely
fragmentary remains of a very long porticoed street, a nymphaeum,
and a bath. On top of the hill to the south-east lie the
remains of a large square plan agora enclosed on three sides.
Attached to it is an apsidal basilica belonging to a later
period. The ruins of Selge which mostly date from the Roman
period show that, especially in the 2nd century A.D. Selge
was a wealthy and influential city. The main source of revenue
for the city was its production of olives, wine, and medicinal
plants.Selge remains unexcavated. |