Türkiye’s ancient temple of Athena in Side shines again after restoration

The ancient Temple of Athena in Side, Türkiye, long overshadowed by the more famous Temple of Apollo, is now gaining renewed interest following a major restoration project. 

According to Greek media, Located in the southern province of Antalya, the temple dates back around 2,000 years and was built to honor Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and protector of the city, as well as a symbol of security for maritime trade.

The temple is positioned near the entrance to Side's ancient harbor, right beside the Temple of Apollo. Together, these two temples once formed the spiritual and civic heart of the city. However, for many years, visitors often overlooked Athena’s shrine, focusing their attention primarily on the larger and more renowned Temple of Apollo.

That all changed with the completion of a significant restoration project led by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism in November 2024. Experts meticulously reassembled several of the temple’s original columns and structures, restoring much of its original appearance.

Professor Feriştah Alanyalı, who heads the archaeological work in Side, explained that the project gained significant momentum in 2022. In 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched an intensified effort as part of the “Heritage for the Future” initiative, allowing for deeper research and partial rebuilding of the temple's original form.

“The positioning of Apollo and Athena’s temples side by side is remarkable,” Alanyalı noted. “These were dedicated to Side’s most revered deities and served as a major cultural and religious center known beyond the city’s borders. Athena, as a guarantor of maritime trade, maintained her presence at the harbor throughout antiquity.”

The temple’s classical Greek design, with its tall columns and intricate stone carvings, reflects the architectural style of its era. Historians believe it was constructed during the Hellenistic period, when Side was a thriving port city.

Over the centuries, the temple faced alterations and periods of neglect, particularly as the city's influence declined. For a long time, the Temple of Apollo attracted the majority of tourist attention, leaving Athena’s temple in the background. However, the recent restoration has shed new light on this historically significant site.

By Naila Huseynova