Hadrian’s Gate (Turkish: Üçkapılar, meaning “The Three Gates”) in Antalya, Turkey, exemplifies Roman architecture and the city’s historical significance. This triumphal arch, built in celebration of Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the city in 130 CE, was later included into the defenses that surround the city and harbor. Today, it is the only surviving entrance gate from those once-imposing walls, providing tourists with a concrete link to the city’s rich history.

The finding of the gate in 1817 by Irish hydrographer Francis Beaufort, who was commanding the HMS Fridericksteen, was a watershed moment in historical preservation. The excavation and subsequent restoration revealed light on the Romans’ architectural prowess and impact in the region.

Hadrian’s Gate is a stunning example of Roman craftsmanship, with two colonnaded façade and three towering arches rising above four sturdy pylons. Two majestic towers stand vigil around the structure, each with its own history. The Southern Tower, also known as the Julia Sancta, dates back to the Roman era, but it was most likely built independently of the gate. Meanwhile, the Northern Tower, with its Roman-era base, was substantially rebuilt in the 13th century under Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat I. This upper section has an inscription in Arabic calligraphy that reflects the site’s multifaceted historical influences.

Hadrian’s Gate, often regarded as Pamphylia’s most gorgeous gate, is primarily made of white marble, with the exception of granite pillars. The upper section has three cupola-shaped apertures, which add to its aesthetic appeal. Intricate flower and rosette reliefs cover the corridors, demonstrating the careful skill of the Roman stonemasons. An entablature running across the gate includes a frieze with floral motifs and a beautifully carved cornice with sculpted lion heads. Originally a two-story edifice, it is thought that the now-lost upper level previously housed statues of Emperor Hadrian and his family, adding to its commemorative significance.

Hadrian’s Gate remained hidden within the city’s fortifications for ages, unaffected by time or human meddling. This accidental preservation guaranteed that the gate remained largely intact. Only in the 1950s, when pieces of the ancient walls crumbled, was the gate once more revealed to the world. Subsequent restoration operations in 1959 precisely restored its splendor, revealing traces of the old Roman pavement behind layers of modern architecture. Today, visitors can see the deeply grooved stone walkway through clear perspex panels, witnessing firsthand the imprints left by countless carts crossing the city’s threshold over millennia.

During the gate’s repair, a startling discovery added another depth to its historical story. A dozen bronze letters from an inscription praising Hadrian were discovered at its base. These letters, which were formerly spread throughout museums and private collections, are currently stored in Vienna, Berlin, the British Museum in London, and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It is widely assumed that the missing second floor formerly contained an extra inscription honoring the emperor’s legacy.

Aside from its architectural and historical significance, Hadrian’s Gate is rife with folklore. One of the most romantic stories related with the monument is that of Sultana Belkis, the legendary Queen of Sheba. According to local legend, Diana reportedly walked beneath these majestic arches on her route to see King Solomon, pausing to spend the day at Aspendos’ Palace. While this story is undeniably romantic, historical timelines indicate that if such an occurrence occurred, she would have passed through an earlier version of the gateway, as her rule predates Hadrian by about a millennium.

History of Hadrian’s Gate

Hadrian’s Gate, a prominent edifice in Antalya, symbolizes the city’s historical significance and architectural magnificence. Notwithstanding its current prominence, the gate’s history was predominantly neglected by early travelers and scholars. Travelers like Evliya Çelebi and Corneille Le Bruyn, who explored Antalya in the contemporary era, omitted any reference to Hadrian’s Gate, despite detailing their impressions of the city. The gate was predominantly obscure to the external world until the early 19th century, when it started to garner academic interest.

Early Discoveries and Descriptions

The initial significant record of Hadrian’s Gate originated from Admiral Francis Beaufort, a British naval officer who visited Antalya in 1812 on the HMS Fridericksteen. Beaufort’s remark to the gate constituted a pivotal event in its recorded history, representing the earliest known mention by an external observer. Nonetheless, it was not until the late 19th century that the gate started to intrigue explorers and researchers.

Lanckoroński, a notable figure in early archaeological research, offered the most comprehensive account of Hadrian’s Gate during his visit to Antalya in 1882. His work, Cities of Pamphylia and Pisidia, had detailed sketches and illustrations of the gate, providing the world with an enhanced perspective of this ancient wonder. Lanckoroński’s sketches emerged as an indispensable resource for subsequent studies and restorations, emphasizing the elaborate architecture and enormous grandeur of the tower.

Struggles with Preservation

Notwithstanding its historical importance, Hadrian’s Gate encountered considerable preservation issues. In 1872, local authorities endeavored to reopen the entry to the gate, which had been obstructed due to urban growth considerations. This endeavor, however, was obstructed by the complaints of a local property owner whose residence was situated just behind the gate. The proprietor denied permission for the demolition of his residence, thereby delaying the reopening of the gate.

The excavation and restoration of Hadrian’s Gate commenced in 1882 under the supervision of Governor Turhan Pasha. Excavations resulted in the dismantling of adjacent ramparts and walls, revealing a section of the gate that had been obscured throughout time. During the excavation, the gate’s columns were toppled, requiring additional restoration efforts. Stone buttresses resembling pyramidal obelisks were used to stabilize the structure, but were subsequently removed in 1959 during a more extensive renovation. Columns of white marble were added, reinstating a significant portion of the gate’s previous magnificence.

Modern Enhancements and Preservation Efforts

The conservation of Hadrian’s Gate continues into the 21st century, with multiple programs focused on rehabilitating the surrounding environment and increasing visitor accessibility. In 2016, the municipality of Antalya initiated a project to establish a green space near the northeastern entrance. The newly built park features a sun-shaped layout, enhancing the site’s historical feel. The green space included meticulously designed plant beds, chairs, small pathways, and thoughtfully positioned ground lighting, enhancing the attractive ambiance for both tourists and residents.

In 2021, the improvement of Hadrian’s Gate progressed with the installation of stone flooring on the southwestern wall facing Kaleiçi, a section that closely resembles the ancient city’s original layout. To enhance the site’s historical integration, railings constructed from Alanya marble were put along the pavement’s periphery, harmonizing the contemporary with the antiquity. The renovation permitted unobstructed pedestrian access from both sides of the gate, enabling visitors to appreciate its grandeur while honoring the adjacent historical context.

Architectural Design and Structure of Hadrian’s Gate

Hadrian’s Gate, a colossal edifice in Antalya, Turkey, serves as a lasting tribute to the magnificence of Roman construction. The gate comprises two unique but complementing architectural components: the gate portion and the tower section. Every feature is carefully crafted to harmonize aesthetics and functionality, guaranteeing visual allure and structural stability.

The Gate Section

The gate section exemplifies Roman luxury, showcasing elaborate decoration and exquisite intricacy. Constructed from high-quality materials like marble, this area features intricate designs and carvings that demonstrate the skill of Roman craftsmen. The employment of challenging metals and stone reflects the project’s ambition, aiming to both remember Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the area and to create a lasting emblem of the Roman Empire’s power.

The gate’s architectural design is symmetrical, exhibiting a harmonious appearance on both the front and rear. This symmetry is not solely ornamental but functions as a design principle that resonates across Roman triumphal arches, reflecting the perpetual equilibrium between the emperor and the empire.

The Tower Section

The towers of Hadrian’s Gate are constructed from substantial hewn stones, their simplicity sharply contrasting with the elaborate gate portion. These towers were initially erected as an augmentation of the city walls during the Roman era, enhancing the city’s defenses. The towers have been altered over time, including enhancements made during the rule of Alaeddin Keykubad I in the Seljuk era.

Keykubad I augmented the western tower by six meters, employing smaller stones that modified the basic proportions of the construction. This expansion augmented the tower’s height to an astonishing 15 meters. The tower’s parapets were altered to create two windows, which were subsequently adorned with Ottoman inscriptions. These inscriptions illustrate the cultural transformations in the region, integrating both Roman and Ottoman influences into the architecture.

Currently, the surviving sections of the tower serve as mute testaments to the evolving currents of history. The western tower’s wall measures 15 meters in length, whilst the eastern tower’s walls stretch approximately 50 meters. The last sections of the walls were dismantled in 1937 owing to apprehensions over the stifling heat and insufficient airflow in the vicinity. This decision, enacted by former Mayor Hüsnü Karakaş, exemplifies the convergence of historical preservation and contemporary urban design.

The Door Section

The door part of Hadrian’s Gate exemplifies classical architecture, showcasing three unique arches and a vaulted roof that enhances both magnificence and structural integrity. The vaults have square reliefs, intricately carved with floral designs like daisies and fruit leaves, illustrating the Roman appreciation for nature and decoration.

The floral decorations on the vaulted ceilings to the right and left were restored in 1959. Nonetheless, the middle portion of the ceiling remains predominantly unembellished, with flat, circular reliefs in lieu of the previously existing floral motifs. This partial restoration illustrates the dynamic nature of historical conservation and the intricate balance between retaining authenticity and ensuring structural integrity.

The door, serving as the centerpiece of the gate, exemplifies the magnificence of Roman construction. The entryway part is thought to have once included a second storey, presumably accommodating a statue of Hadrian and his family. Although a significant portion of the upper section has succumbed to the ravages of time, many remnants remain, including three architrave segments and a spiral column, which are dispersed across the park in front of the gate.

These artifacts, some of which were regrettably compromised by a fire in 2016, embody the legacy of Hadrian’s Gate. Notwithstanding the deterioration, these fragments continue to be significant artifacts of a past epoch, evoking the gate’s initial grandeur and the individuals that formerly esteemed it.

Ornamental Features and Decorative Elements

The gate’s design incorporates many decorative elements that augment its aesthetic allure. The friezes on the gate’s eaves, adorned with elaborate floral designs, stretch 1.28 meters on each side, enhancing the design’s elegance and consistency. The archways are embellished with cornices featuring the formidable yet noble likeness of lion heads, a prevalent motif in Roman triumphal arches that represents strength and authority.

Greek Inscription: A Glimpse into the Past

A notable feature of Hadrian’s Gate is its Greek inscription, which once displayed the complete name of Emperor Hadrian—Caesar Traianus Hadrianus—in ancient Greek characters. This inscription, made of lustrous bronze with a golden hue, would have shimmered in the sunlight, acting as both a symbol of Hadrian’s imperial authority and a tribute to the cultural importance of Greek in the Roman Empire.

Regrettably, only remnants of the inscription have endured to the present time. The central section, inscribed “ΤΡΑΙΑNω” (Traiano), is the sole visible fragment, directly alluding to Hadrian’s familial connection with his predecessor, Emperor Trajan. The absence of the letter “S” at the conclusion of the name indicates that time and natural deterioration have exerted their influence. The remaining letters were gathered by European explorers in the 19th century and distributed to other countries, with the surviving portions currently located in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Preservation and Modern-Day Significance

Hadrian’s Gate has endured the passage of time and has emerged as an emblematic representation of Antalya, bridging the historical and contemporary eras. In recent years, initiatives have been undertaken to illuminate the gate at night, producing an ethereal glow over the ancient building and encouraging people to contemplate its historical significance. The gate is currently a significant stop on Antalya’s T2 tram line, referred to as the Üçkapılar Station, offering contemporary access to this historical site.