Ancient doorway elements in the Kesik Minaret in Kaleiçi, Antalya

Antalya Kaleiçi, where Attaleia was during Ancient Period, constantly inhabited due to its favorable climatic, strategic and economic conditions. Hence, little from Ancient Period has been protected. Thus, we know very little about cultural, social, economic and structural qualities of Attaleia and of previous settlements in the same area. The city walls erected after its foundation as Attaleia by the King of Bergama II. Attalos Philadelphos (B.C. 158-138) during Hellenistic Period. At the same time, Korykos, a fishermen settlement, transformed to a city with a protected harbor and became an important base for the navy of Bergama. Unlike other important cities in Pamphylia Region, Attaleia maintained its importance throughout Ancient Period and even during the times of Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. Among the data about the history of city; the city walls, which were repaired several times during and after Ancient Period and Late Ancient Period, Attaleia Hadrianic Gate, Hıdırlık Tower, Kesik Minaret, Yivli Minaret and a few madrasas are still observable.Since there were always settlements in the city, its structural appearance changed during every different cultural period. Especially Ancient Period?s many architectural elements and equipments were used as spolia materials because they could be customized to almost every structure. For example, the city walls in Kaleiçi were repaired and extended at different periods. Many structures and equipments of Ancient Period (e.g. doorjamb, lintel, columns, capital, wall and architrave blocks) used in these works of reparations and extensions. In addition, after Ancient Period the religious formation of the city changed and a church constructed in partially protected agora in the area of Kesik Minaret. Hence, spolia materials were used in this area, too, like city walls. Although architectural elements used as spolia materials lost their function, architectural elements and doors that do not have religious decorations maintained their functions because they were made with durable materials and served the same function.The monumental doors of Ancient Period used in Kesik Minaret were first examined by K. G. von Lanckoronski. This was a partial examination, though. Only south side nave door was drawn and a general examination was made. There are no detailed studies on these doors afterwards either. For instance, they were merely mentioned or briefly defined in the works of B.Aran , K. Turfan, R. M. Reifstahl, M. H. Ballance and G. Kaymak.Made with care gray veined white marble doors are the most qualified materials of Kesik Minare and all reflect the Ion type of doors. The detailed definitions and technical, ornamentical, typological and stylistic examinations of the doors, some of which remained until, today, made. The dispersed broken parts of the doors, due to damages done during and after Ottoman Period, in the area were analyzed by drawing them, and tried to match them with doors either that are not well protected in their original setting or that we know nothing about their frames. After these investigations, attempts were made to match them with structures in the disappeared city configuration by examining similar monumental doors used in the architectural structures such as gate, propylon, temple, theatre in other cities. It is concluded that these doors are most probably from religious structures from Antonine Period of the city.