Located in the very center of the Side Ancient City in Antalya’s Manavgat district, Side Museum is a special stop that brings its visitors together with the past… This is not an ordinary museum; It is located inside an ancient bath (Agora Bath) built during the Roman period and reshaped with additions over the centuries. This building, which was once used for public purposes, has today turned into a time tunnel, preserving its historical texture…
Poolside Sculptures, Side Museum Directorate
The bath, which was unearthed during excavations in the Side Ruins in the 1950s; It is surrounded by important buildings such as the theatre, agora and the Vespasian Monument. The bath was partially restored by closing three sections between 1959 and 1961; In 1962, it was converted into a museum and opened to visitors with a ceremony attended by Arif Müfid Mansel and Jale İnan, the pioneers of archaeological excavations in Side.
Nike and Milestones, Side Museum Directorate
The works unearthed during excavations since 1947 form the basis of the museum. The collection, which has been enriched with new discoveries in recent years and works that have not been exhibited before, meets its visitors in the renewed exhibition areas within the scope of the ‘Heritage to the Future’ project of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. With these renovation works, inscriptions in Side, the unique written language of Side, can be seen together for the first time.
In the closed sections of the museum, many works dating from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman and Byzantine periods are exhibited in thematic showcases. Terracotta figurines from the early settlement phase, scales, weights and weighbridges that shed light on Side’s commercial past; Statues of gods and goddesses belonging to the important public buildings of the city, friezes depicting the Sea Thiass theme, and relief architectural pieces depicting the birth scene of Aphrodite stand out in these sections. In addition to the statues found in the South Stoa-Gymnasium and Imperial Hall excavations, coins, ornaments, amphorae, the Statue of Hermes, Eros sarcophagi and bronze and marble statuettes are also exhibited in these areas.
Tepidarium, Side Museum Directorate
Side is not just a touristic coastal settlement; It has been an important cultural and commercial center throughout history with its Luwian language, unique writing system, monumental architecture and port opening to the Mediterranean. Archaeological data show that the city has been inhabited since the 8th century BC; However, it reveals that some finds unearthed from the region can be traced back even further, to the Late Bronze Age. This layered history is also clearly visible in the museum’s collection.
Sphinx, Side Museum Directorate
Side Museum tells a story beyond stones and artifacts. Each piece bears the traces of thousands of years of life; It conveys the identity, beliefs and daily life of an ancient port city to the present day. To hear this story in situ and establish a direct connection with the past, you should visit Side Museum…
Source: Side Museum Directorate.
Places to Visit in Antalya
Source: Antalya Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate
