Syedra

The ancient city of Syedra, which forms the western border of the Cilicia Region, is located within the borders of Seki village in the Alanya district of Antalya province. The city is positioned on a peak known as Asar Hill, approximately 20 km from the town center. Leartes, Nauloi, Korakesion ve Hamaxia, in the east Iotape (Aidop), Selinus ve Antiochia ad Cragum It is surrounded by cities. The city takes its name from "Sedre Stream" and the stream in question also determines the border of the Cilicia Region with Pamphylia. This situation has led to different views in ancient sources about which region the city should be included in, and sometimes the city is included in both regions and sometimes it is mentioned in the Isauria Region. However, both ancient sources, settlement type and epigraphic data reveal that the city has more of the characteristics of the Rough Cilicia Region (Cilicia Tracheia).

The earliest period of the city, in light of ceramics recovered from the surface, dates back to the 9th century BC. However, while the data for this broad period extending from the Archaic Period to the Hellenistic Period can only be known through ceramic findings, it is seen that epigraphic and architectural findings increased in intensity with the Late Hellenistic Period. The city, which first began minting coins under the name “Syedreon” during the reign of Emperor Tiberius (14-37 AD), continued to mint coins until the Gallienus Period (253-268 AD). The architectural structures and epigraphic findings that have survived to the present day reveal that the city experienced its brightest period between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD.

The first research on the city was carried out by R. Heberdey and A. Wilhelm in the late 19th century. Following numerous epigraphic studies, landscaping and cleaning works were carried out in the city under the presidency of the Alanya Archaeological Museum between 1994-1999, surface research by Prof. Dr. Birol Can in 2015-2016, and finally excavations started in 2019 with the permission and support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums and continued under the presidency of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ertuğ Ergürer.

The 12 Labors of Hercules in Syedra, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ertuğ Ergürer