Side is a resort town located near the villages of Selimiye and Manavgat in Turkey. In Side, history began with the Greek settlers thousands of years ago. This ancient city, located on the eastern side of the Pamphylian coast, is a beautiful coastal retreat on the Mediterranean full of rich culture and captivating history. 

Early History of Side

It is recorded that Side was founded in the seventh century B.C. by Greek settlers. Side's natural geographical features made it an ideal trade center in Pamphylia, and when Greek settlers came to the region, they were captivated. When settlers came to Side, they could not understand the language spoken in the region. Shortly after, the influence of the dialect of Side had replaced the Greek language altogether. Inscriptions written in this language have been discovered, dating back to the second century B.C.

In 333 B.C., Alexander the Great occupied Side without effort. After his death, Side fell into the power of Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander's generals. Side was occupied by Ptolemy until it was seized by the Seleucid Empire, where it continued to grow and prosper, developing into a significant cultural area. In 190 B.C., Side was freed from the Seleucid empire by a fleet from a Greek island, under the command of a fugitive general named Hannibal.

The Romans Prevail

Side was brought under the control of Rome in 67 B.C. when the consul Servilius Vatia defeated the brigands of Side. Emperor Augustus reformed the state administration and positioned Side and Pamphylia in the Roman province of Galatia in 25 B.C. Soon after, Side began to prosper as a commercial center through the trade of olive oil, and its population increased to nearly 60,000 residents. This prosperity lasted into the third century A.D. Side had established itself as a slave-trading center in the Mediterranean in the same time period as well. Side's massive commercial fleet participated in piracy acts, while affluent merchants paid for tributes such as monuments, competitions and public works. Many of the surviving ruins in Side originated from this period of wealth.

The Deterioration of Side

The steady downturn of Side began in the fourth century, and invaders from the Taurus Mountains were not prevented by even the defensive walls built for this purpose. In the fifth and sixth centuries, Side experienced a restoration when it became the seat of the Bishophric of Eastern Pamphylia, but the invasion of Arab fleets during the seventh century bestowed the collapse of Side.

Side Today

Today, Side is a well-known vacation destination, and was a popular spot for viewing the solar eclipse of 2006. In addition, it is still a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church.