The Tiberian Gate

The Tiberian Gate

An Imperial Gate to the city

 

When the colonnaded street was constructed during the reign of Emperor Tiberius (14-37 AD), monumental gates were built at both ends. These gates were exclusively decorative in function, and played no role in the defense of the town. The northern monumental gate, an elegant building in Corinthian order, was one of the most elaborate monuments in Sagalassos.. The Corinthian capitals supported a richly-carved frieze of fruit garlands, a symbol of the “golden age” that had begun with the reign of Emperor Augustus.

 

The gate stood at the landing of the monumental staircase leading to the Lower Agora. The stairs were impassable for vehicle traffic, so this elegant street was only accessible to pedestrians and pack animals. The Colonnaded Street was also used for religious processions. Because of the many staircases in the city, beasts of burden – mainly donkeys and mules – were used for transport within Sagalassos.

 

The northern monumental gate was destroyed by an earthquake around 500 AD. After the earthquake, the staircase was repaired re-using some of the stones from the gate. The gate’s northwest corner was also rebuilt around a statue of Emperor Julian the Apostate.