Aspendos

The site of Aspendos, in antiquity probably the most important city in Pamphylia and now notable particularly for its splendidly preserved theater, lies some 50km/30mi east of Antalya and 15km/9mi from the coast. It is situated near the village of Belkis in the alluvial plain of the River Köprüirmagi (ancient Eurymedeon), which is navigable in the lower reaches.

Aspendos was founded by the Greeks - according to tradition by the legendary Mopsos about 1000 B.C. As with other neighboring towns such as Perge and Side, it enjoyed its most prosperous period under the Romans and as with those cities, its eventual decline was due to the silting up of its harbor and the centralizing policy of the Byzantine Empire.