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Side

Ancient city, southwestern Anatolia. The most important port of ancient Pamphylia, it originally was situated on the Mediterranean Sea coast; it now lies inland. Though it was founded by Aeolian Greeks, a peculiar non-Greek language was spoken there. Alexander the Great occupied it (333 BC); the Seleucid king Antiochus III was defeated there by a Roman-led fleet in 190 BC. In the 1st century BC, Cilician pirates made it their chief slave market. The ruins include the remains of a colossal theatre, built on arches and considered one of the finest in Anatolia.