Perge / Pergai / Pergae

The remains of ancient Perge (Pergai or Pergae, first mentioned in the fourth century B.C.) a Pamphylian city of particular importance in Roman imperial times, lies on a steep-sided hill on the northwestern edge of the alluvial plain of the Aksu Çayi (the ancient Kestros) near the village of Murtuna, 18km/11mi northeast of Antalya. The site is 4km/2.5mi from the river, which was navigable in ancient times, and 12km/7.5mi from the Mediterranean. Like most of the Greek colonies on the west and south coasts of Asia Minor, Perge found itself deprived of one of the main pillars of its existence as its harbor gradually silted up, leading in Byzantine times to its final decline. Perge had one of the oldest Christian communities in Asia Minor. Paul and Barnabas came here after their flight from Antioch in Pisidia and "spoke the word in Perga" (Acts 14:25).