Athena and Apollon cults in Side in the light of epigraphic, numismatic and archeological data

In this study, the cults of Athena and Apollo, which become prominent in the Pantheon of Side, one of the important cities of the Pamphylia Region, were evaluated in the light of epigraphic, numismatic and archaeological data. Existing data reveal that in the Pantheon of Side, where many gods are worshiped, Athena and Apollo are more prominent than other gods, and they are the two indisputable prominent gods of Side. The cults of Athena and Apollo, whose existence was documented for the first time in the 5th century BC, were worshiped in the city until the period when polytheistic beliefs disappeared. This situation, first of all, documents the cult continuity of Athena and Apollo in the Pantheon of Side for more than six hundred years. Existing data, mainly from the Roman Imperial Period, reveal that there was a cult association between the two important gods of the Side Pantheon in many ways. The most important document for cult unity is the Epibaterion Festival, which we have information about by means of epigraphic materials. The Epibaterion Fest shows that the two gods were the guardian deities of ship travel in an important port city like Side. The fact that the pomegranate, which is the coat of arms of Side, is sacred to both gods, the two gods are depicted together on the coins and play an important role as a representative god on the coins, the sacred areas are built side by side and the guardians of the agons organized in the city, are other important pieces of evidence for the cult union followed between Athena and Apollo. On the other hand, both numismatic and epigraphic documents reveal that Athena was always ahead in Side. The representations made with Athena on the coins, the fact that the coins mainly consist of the depiction of the goddess, and most importantly, the pomegranate, which is the city's coat of arms, sacred to the goddess, are the most important evidences of Athena's identification with the city of Side. In addition to this, the only known festival of the city, the Feast of the Epibaterion, celebrated only in honor of Athena and the noble status accorded to its sanctuary constitutes a strong evidence that Athena is the chief goddess of Side. Apollo is the other leading god of the city after Athena. The existing data reveal that his cult became more prominent than Athena in the first and second centuries BC and the second and third centuries AD, and that he was the chief god of the city. The name Sidetes, which was given to Apollo by the city and reflects its local aspect, documents the importance of the god's cult in the city. The fact that Apollo was worshiped as a city founder and the god of ancestors proves that the cult is as old as the city's history, and that the city of Side was also sacred to Apollo, as it was in Athena.