Σέλγη | |
 Roman theatre of Selge | |
  Selge Shown within Turkey | |
| Location | Antalya Province,Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Pisidia |
| Coordinates | 37°13′46″N31°07′38″E / 37.22944°N 31.12722°E /37.22944; 31.12722 |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Cultures | Greek,Roman |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
Selge (Greek:Σέλγη) was an important city inancient Pisidia and later inPamphylia, on the southern slope ofMount Taurus, modernAntalya Province,Turkey, at the part where the riverEurymedon River (Turkish:Köprüçay) forces its way through the mountains towards the south.
The town was believed to be aGreek colony, forStrabo[1] states that it was founded bySpartans, but adds the somewhat unintelligible remark that previously it had been founded byCalchas.Stephanus of Byzantium, in theEthnica, also wrote that the city was a Lacedaemon colony.[2] Theacropolis of Selge bore the name of Kesbedion.[3] The district in which the town was situated was extremely fertile, producing abundance of oil and wine, but the town itself was difficult of access, being surrounded by precipices and beds of torrents flowing towards the Eurymedon andCestrus (today Aksu), and requiring bridges to make them passable. In consequence of its excellent laws and political constitution, Selge rose to the rank of the most powerful and populous city of Pisidia, and at one time was able to send an army of 20,000 men into the field. Owing to these circumstances, and the valour of its inhabitants, for which they were regarded as worthy kinsmen of the Spartans, the Selgians were never subject to any foreign power, but remained in the enjoyment of their own freedom and independence. WhenAlexander the Great passed through Pisidia (333 BC), Selge sent an embassy to him and gained his favour and friendship.[4] At that time they were at war withTermessos.
At the period whenAchaeus had made himself master of Western Asia, Selge were at war withPednelissus, which was besieged by them; and Achaeus, on the invitation of Pednelissus, sent a large force against Selge (218 BC). After a long and vigorous siege, the Selgians, being betrayed and despairing of resisting Achaeus any longer, sent deputies to sue for peace, which was granted to them on the following terms: they agreed to pay immediately 400talents, to restore the prisoners of Pednelissus, and after a time to pay 300 talents in addition.[5] In the 5th century ADZosimus[6] calls it indeed a little town, but it was still strong enough to repel a body ofGoths. It is strange thatPliny does not notice Selge, for it is known from its coins that it was still a flourishing town in the time ofHadrian; and it is also mentioned inPtolemy[7] andHierocles. Independently of wine and oil, the country about Selge was rich in timber, and a variety of trees, among which thestorax was much valued from its yielding a strong perfume. Selge was also celebrated for an ointment prepared from the iris root.[8]
The remains of the city consist mainly of parts of the encircling wall and of the acropolis. A few traces have survived of thegymnasium, thestoa, thestadium and thebasilica. There are also the outlines of two temples, but the best conserved monument is thetheater, restored in the 3rd century AD. Selge was the seat of abishop; it remains atitular see of theRoman Catholic Church.[9]
Halfway on the road to Selge from thePamphylian coastal plain,a well-preserved Roman Bridge crosses the deepEurymedon valley.
Selge was asee of an ancient bishopric of the Roman province of Pamphylia Prima in the civil diocese of Asia which today survives only as a suppressed seat of thePatriarchate of Constantinople and atitular see of theCatholic Church.[10][11]
The Bishopric is documented in theNotitiae Episcopatuum of the Patriarchate of Constantinople until the fourteenth century.[12] Its lapse is probably due to the Islamic conquest of Turkey.
Since the nineteenth century Selge has been counted among the titular archbishopric headquarters of the Catholic Church; the title has not been assigned since September 13, 1969.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Selge".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
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