Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an approximately 1,800-year-old stadium in the ancient Greek city of Syedra (Greek: Σύεδρα), located in Antalya’s Alanya district in southern Turkey.
Stadium uncovered in the southern section
Excavation director Ertuğ Ergürer stated this season’s work focused on the southern section of the site. Researchers there 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 about the seating rows but had not located the structure due to the steep terrain at 340 meters elevation,” Ergürer said. “Finally, we uncovered a stadium about 200 meters long and 16 meters wide.”
Inscriptions found in Syedra reference wrestling and boxing. Ergürer said these points indicate a history of athletic contests and suggest that the stadium also hosted religious festivals and imperial ceremonies.
“The existence of a stadium here shows that Syedra was a developed, prosperous city with a distinctive status in the region,” he said.
City with a layered history
Syedra preserves traces of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Anatolian Seljuk civilizations. Excavations are being carried out under the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Heritage for the Future project, which highlights major historic sites across the country.
Alanya’daki Syedra Antik Kenti’nde 1800 yıllık stadyum ortaya çıktı. pic.twitter.com/TOiGnim1pm
— Pusholder (@pusholder) September 19, 2025
The city is notable for its colonnaded street, baptism cave, baths, assembly hall, cisterns, staircases, and advanced water systems. Archaeologists have also 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, such as a mosaic near the Roman baths and a five-meter cistern adapted with reused funerary stone, reflect the ingenuity of its residents.
A center of athletics and civic life
The stadium, believed to seat 2,000 to 3,000 people, was carved directly into the bedrock. Its northern section remains well preserved, while the southern side was damaged by fortification walls built in later centuries.
Archaeologists have revealed seating rows, stairways, and finely carved stone blocks. Ergürer said the structure may have featured a combination of stone and wooden seating, similar to the city’s theater. Excavation work continues to expose the remaining sections.
A city shaped by Greek and Roman influence
Syedra’s civic identity expanded under Rome, when it minted coins and supported a population estimated at up to 5,000. Inscriptions show the presence of Roman veterans, while its architecture reflects a fusion of Greek civic ideals with Roman imperial influence.
The discovery strengthens Syedra’s reputation as a cultural and sporting hub in antiquity, highlighting its importance among the ancient cities of southern Turkey.
