Description of the attraction
Many of the famous creations of ancient sculptors and unique architectural monuments in Side have survived to our time. The rich historical heritage is carefully guarded by the Turkish government. One of these architectural monuments is the Great Monumental Fountain Nymphaeum, built, like the Central Gate of the city, in honor of the Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus. The structure is believed to have been built in the second century.
Nymphaeum, as this fountain is otherwise called, is located in the northeast of the city behind the fortress walls, directly opposite the Great Gate. The fountain is the first building seen by a traveler who entered the old part of the city through the Central Gate, therefore, during its construction, much attention was paid to the aesthetic component. At the base of the fountain there is a large pool, into which the water of the nearby Manavgat River flowed through the aqueduct.
Today you can see only two floors of the monument, but it is assumed that the fountain was three-story, and its height and width reached 5 and 35 meters, respectively. In ancient times, the Nymphaeum fountain was a very impressive structure. The architecture of the fountain used marble niches, in each of them, shimmering in the sun, streams of water flowed. The design of the monument was complemented by Corinthian columns and exquisite statues. The water for this extraordinarily beautiful spring was supplied by the old city aqueduct.
From the outside, the fountain was faced with marble and decorated with original frescoes. The Side Museum still houses many interesting statues and decorative elements of the monumental fountain.
Despite the influence of time, the structure brings to us the spirit of that time and it will not be difficult to imagine how it looked many years ago. The charm of antiquity and the majesty of the Neifeum will delight even the sophisticated traveler.
