An Investigation into the Interaction between Pisidia Antiochia and Yalvaç in Terms of Urban Identity

Abstract

Pisidia Antiochia, one of the largest ancient cities in Isparta and its surroundings, is located in the district of Yalvaç and served for centuries as a major settlement at the center of various civilizations. Closely intertwined with today’s Yalvaç district, the ancient city was abandoned following the Seljuk settlement in the region and gradually became buried under layers of soil. The Devlethan Mosque, situated in the center of Yalvaç, formed the core of the newly organized Seljuk city; other buildings were positioned around the mosque in a chain-like arrangement based on their importance. As seen in the current urban layout, particular attention was paid to locating public buildings centrally in the urban planning. The phenomenon of interaction, observable in many areas of human life, forms the main framework of this study. Within this scope, the study investigates whether traces of ancient Antiochia can be found in today’s Yalvaç in terms of environmental, social, and spatial dimensions, as well as urbanism and urbanization, and if so, how and to what extent these traces have been preserved. The similarities and differences between Antiochia and Yalvaç were first evaluated individually and then analyzed comparatively to reveal the interaction between an ancient and a modern settlement.