West City

At various points in its history, the centre of Sagalassos was protected by a fortification circuit, including walls and towers. So far none of these fortification systems could be studied in its entirety and knowledge remains patchy. The fact that standing remains of fortification walls were incorporated into new construction phases makes this study even more complicated. At most times the city walls formed part of a wider defensive infrastructure, including fortresses and strongpoints in the surrounding mountains. 

The walls and towers followed best practices of military engineering. Their construction must have come at a huge cost to the community. At the same time, their function was not only military. Strong town walls were also a source of civic pride and prestige. 

The original city walls were built in (Late) Hellenistic times. An excavated part could be dated to the 1st century BCE. At visible points, for instance near city gates, relief blocks decorated with military gear were inserted into the walls. It remains unclear how much of the city walls remained standing in the peaceful Roman İmperial times. In any case, the city clearly grew beyond the Hellenistic fortification system.

 In Late Antiquity, many older structures and monuments were incorporated into a new fortification system. The abandoned Doric temple for instance was transformed into a tower, flanking one of the city gates.

After the 7th century CE earthquake, the old centre of Sagalassos was largely abandoned and occupation shifted mostly towards the  lower, southern slopes of the site. Byzantine Sagalassos started functioning as a military stronghold or kastron in the defence system protecting the wider region from the threat of Arab raids. The final military construction of Sagalassos was the 12th century fortress erected on top of the Alexander’s hill, possibly forming part of a regional defensive belt against Turkmen and Seljuk intrusions and conquests.