Antiquity in Antalya: Ruins of Cities, Theaters, and Memorials

The first empire in the region of Antalya is famous for battling the Egyptian Pharaoh, Rameses the Great, at Kadesh. They founded cities like Perge. 

The Lycians ruled the western part of Antalya, which is today known as Lycian Coast. They are known as one of the first democratic structured states and founded cities like Patara, Myra, and Xanthos.

The Persians conquered the Antalya region from the Lycian Empire. Today there are no famous remains from the Persian rule in the region.

Settlers from Greece founded cities like, Phaselis. The city is famous for accommodating Alexander the Great during the winter on his way to conquer Persia. Alexander's reign in Antalya was followed by Ptolomaic Kingdom, and the Seleucid Empire. The city of Antalya was founded by King Attalos II of Pergamon, one of the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great's Empire.

Pompeus, the enemy of Julius Ceasar during the Roman Civil War, conquered cities like Alanya for the Roman Empire. The city was a famous pirate harbor, named Korakesion, back then. The following centuries where the heyday of ancient cities in Antalya. Monuments like the huge theaters, temples, and aqueducts where built during the reign of the Romans. The most famous person from ancient Antalya was born during this time, Nicholas of Myra. 

Ruins of cathedrals, churches, and monasteries date bake to the once glorious empire. 

The Seljuk Empire was a Turkish tribe that conquered most parts of Anatolia from the Byzantine Empire and Crusader States. The Seljuk Sultan, Alaeddin Keykubat, made Alanya his winter residence. He also commissioned the expansion of the fortress of Alanya, the Red Tower at the harbor, and the Seljuk shipyard.