The known history of Termessos begins with Alexander the Great’s unsuccessful siege of the city in 333 BC. The ancient city was likened to an eagle’s nest by Alexander due to its location embedded on top of Güllük Mountain(then Mount Solymos) in Taurus Range, Antalya. The mountains and the pine forests surrounding the city made it almost impenetrable during its heyday.
Although the legend claims the mythological hero Bellerophon built the city, it was actually a little-known community known as the Solims. Despite the city’s well-preserved condition thanks to its remote location, there is no efficient information about the culture of Termessos. The local people probably abandoned the city around 200 AD after an earthquake destroyed the city’s aqueduct.
Today the most prominent structure on the site is undoubtedly the theatre which could seat 4200 people in its auditorium, separated from the skene (stage) by open passages. The theatre probably dates from the Hellenistic period due to the lack of vaulted substructures, a characteristic of later Roman theatres. Next to the theatre is the Agora once surrounded by Doric collonades, dating from the 2nd century BC. Standing 100 south of the theatre, the Bouleuterion is the best-preserved structure in the ancient site. It used to be a meeting place for the city council and sometimes also functioned as a smaller theatre.
Besides the theatre, Agora, and the Bouleuterion, archaeologists have also discovered six temples. Except for the Temple of Artemis situated at the entrance to the city, the other five stood near the agora. The first one was the Temple of Solymian Zeus, then followed by two temples dedicated to Artemis, and two other temples with uncertain dedications.
