Abstract:

There is the widespread opinion that the acropolis of Perge was abandoned when the new city in the plain had been founded. However as the publication of the inscriptions by Sençer Şahin is showing, there continued important activities on the acropolis during the Imperial and the early Byzantine era. They have been confirmed by the excavations on the acropolis since 1994 which have brought to light many testimonies for their high significance in Roman and Byzantine times. It appears that on the one hand the acropolis with its old sanctuaries remained the sacral center, on the other hand the new part of the city in the plain with the macellum, the baths, the palaestra, the theatre and stadium became the center of commerce, wellness und leisure. In addition Perge shows a most interesting coexistence of the old town on the hill (acropolis) and the new one in the plain which deserves further research.

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