Lyrbe agora

Lyrbe city which is located 23km to the northeast of Side, lays on a hill to the north of Bucak Seyhler village which is bound to Manavgat district. The city about which short info was given by many researchers who traveled there starting from 1800's, has an important place among Pamphylia cities with various structures such as bath, temple and church as well as its very well preserved agora. The agora which is placed on the most central spot of the hills is the most important structure of the city in terms of its location and architecture. The agora which is understood to be continuously used starting from early Roman period until late Byzantium period was subject to various renovations and additions in the above mentioned periods and therefore reached until today in well preserved form. Lyrbe Agora which is in regular rectangular shape and multi-storeyed has a very strong Hellenistic effect in terms of architecture. Hellenistic effects can easily be understood from mosaics with figure, wall blocks with pulvinated work, heart-shaped piers, 3 metope spans placed in axial space, 20 fluted Dor columns consisting of 3 drums and which are slightly exploited and from applications where Dor and Ion architectural elements are being used together. Apart from these Hellenistic features, the high quantity of architectural applications such as darts in Ion cymations, cornice with "S" shaped modillions, attached-half columns, fluted columns, metopes with rosettes and arches that are observed in every part of the agora, give indication to early Roman period related with construction date. When all these architectural features are evaluated together it is possible to date the agora, which is understood to have a single construction phase, to early periods of the empire namely to first quarter of 1st century AC which generally includes the traditional features of the Hellenistic period.