Camera: Nikon FE     Lens: Nikkor 1.8/50mm     Film: Agfa CT100     Date: 27.09.1987

Ruins of the theatre in Termessos, Taurus Mountains, Turkey

We only had arrived in Antalya the previous evening and after a long night of talking, singing and drinking raki (lots!) with our hosts, we travelled the 20km to the ancient ruined city of Termessos. In order to visit the site you should be in good physical condition for the walk uphill, but when you reach the site at about 1000m above sea-level the views are breathtaking. It was infernally hot on this day and soon we were sweating and panting. When we finally reached the ruins of the city, we immediately came upon the theatre with its 24 tiers of seats, allowing for a capacity of some 4 - 5,000 spectators. At its peak, Termessos had an estimated population of 150,000 inhabitants, with the city consisting of a royal palace, a gymnasium, an odeon, six temples of varying sizes, an agora, a bouleuterion (council house), and the theatre. After a gradual decline, the city was abandoned in the 5^th century AD, when an earthquake destroyed the primary aqueduct cutting off vital water to the inhabitants.