1,800-Year-Old Stadium Unearthed in Ancient Greek City of Syedra in Turkey

The past metropolis of Syedra adjacent Alanya, Turkey. Credit: Tero Maaniemi / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Archaeologists person uncovered the remains of an astir 1,800-year-old stadium successful the ancient Greek metropolis of Syedra (Greek: Σύεδρα), located successful Antalya’s Alanya territory successful confederate Turkey.

Stadium uncovered successful the confederate section

Excavation manager Ertuğ Ergürer stated this season’s enactment focused connected the confederate conception of the site. Researchers determination identified the long-suspected stadium.

Antalya’nın Alanya ilçesinde, geçmişi milattan önce 9’uncu yüzyıla dayanan Syedra Antik Kenti’nde devam eden kazılarda yaklaşık 1800 yıllık stadyum gün yüzüne çıkarıldı. pic.twitter.com/iI5Zbm52Df

— Onedio (@onediocom) September 19, 2025

“We knew astir the seating rows but had not located the operation owed to the steep terrain astatine 340 meters elevation,” Ergürer said. “Finally, we uncovered a stadium astir 200 meters agelong and 16 meters wide.”

Inscriptions recovered successful Syedra notation wrestling and boxing. Ergürer said these points bespeak a past of diversion contests and suggest that the stadium besides hosted spiritual festivals and imperial ceremonies.

“The beingness of a stadium present shows that Syedra was a developed, prosperous metropolis with a distinctive presumption successful the region,” helium said.

City with a layered history

Syedra preserves traces of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Anatolian Seljuk civilizations. Excavations are being carried retired nether the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Heritage for the Future project, which highlights large historical sites crossed the country.

Alanya'daki Syedra Antik Kenti'nde 1800 yıllık stadyum ortaya çıktı. pic.twitter.com/TOiGnim1pm

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The metropolis is notable for its colonnaded street, baptism cave, baths, assembly hall, cisterns, staircases, and precocious h2o systems. Archaeologists person besides uncovered mosaics inspired by Greek mythology, including the Twelve Labors of Hercules, and statues of Nike, the goddess of victory.

Antalya Alanya’da yer alan Syedra Antik Kenti’nde Roma hamamı ile en uzun caddesi arasındaki zeytinyağı işlikleri ve konutlarda yürütülen kazılarda mozaikli MS 5. yüzyıla tarihlenen mozaikler keşfedildi. pic.twitter.com/r5KUS5F77z

— Basileos (@arkeologbirey) May 7, 2025

Other discoveries, specified arsenic a mosaic adjacent the Roman baths and a five-meter cistern adapted with reused funerary stone, bespeak the ingenuity of its residents.

A halfway of athletics and civic life

The stadium, believed to spot 2,000 to 3,000 people, was carved straight into the bedrock. Its bluish conception remains good preserved, portion the confederate broadside was damaged by fortification walls built successful aboriginal centuries.

Archaeologists person revealed seating rows, stairways, and finely carved chromatic blocks. Ergürer said the operation whitethorn person featured a operation of chromatic and woody seating, akin to the city’s theater. Excavation enactment continues to exposure the remaining sections.

A metropolis shaped by Greek and Roman influence

Syedra’s civic individuality expanded nether Rome, erstwhile it minted coins and supported a colonisation estimated astatine up to 5,000. Inscriptions amusement the beingness of Roman veterans, portion its architecture reflects a fusion of Greek civic ideals with Roman imperial influence.

The find strengthens Syedra’s reputation arsenic a taste and sporting hub successful antiquity, highlighting its value among the past cities of confederate Turkey.