Perge to be saved by helping hands
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Betül Çal
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 21, 2009 00:00
ANTALYA - A foundation created to raise awareness about the need to protect Turkey’s rich cultural heritage now turns to the ancient Mediterranean city of Perge in Antalya. With the Perge project, the cultural foundation asks individuals to contribute to the restoration of the site’s pillars
Founded as a safe haven from pirate attacks, the ancient Mediterranean city of Perge now needs protection from the ravages of time, an effort that is the subject of a newly revived fundraising initiative.
The project to preserve the archaeological site, located 18 kilometers east of Antalya and two kilometers north of Aksu village, was initiated by the Cultural Consciousness Development Foundation, or Kültür Bilincini Geliştirme Vakfı, in 2004 under the motto, "It is our civic responsibility to save our cultural heritage." The foundation was created to raise awareness about the need to protect Turkey’s rich historical heritage. With the Perge project, it is asking individuals and foundations to contribute to the restoration of the site’s pillars.
Perge was the capital of Pamphylia, which means "land of the tribes" in Greek. The city was established around 1,000 B.C. in an inland part of the district in order to avoid attacks by pirates, which were a common occurrence at the time.
"Excavated systemically by Istanbul University since 1946, the city is very important from the aspect of city planning during the Late Classical, Hellenistic and Roman Empire eras," Professor Haluk Abbasoğlu, an academic in the school’s Faculty of Archeology and head of the Perge excavations, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. "The Perge excavations are the longest-lasting ones conducted by Turks in the field of classical archeology."
Since initiating its Perge project, the Cultural Consciousness Development Foundation, in cooperation with Istanbul University, has raised enough money to restore more than 70 pillars.
Perge’s inclusion on the World Heritage List
"The project has now been restarted with the aim of raising [funds for] 50 more pillars," said foundation member Tijen Kayralcı. "This year’s project has a special meaning in that it will be carried out simultaneously with Perge’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List."
"The donation amount for each pillar is 2,200 Turkish Liras. This can paid by one person, a institution or people and institutions together," said Kayralcı, adding that the pillars restored during this summer’s excavations will be given a plaque bearing the name of the person or institution that provided support.
As the Ministry of Culture generally reserves its support for large-scale projects, Abbasoğlu said, smaller ones like the Perge excavation rely largely on donations from individuals or corporations.
"Marmara Island marble, which is a special kind, is being used in the restoration works. This marble is processed in Afyon, and later brought to the Perge site," he said. "When the cost of the special materials used in the processing of this marble, and their integration with the remains, is added to the labor cost, the overall cost to restore a pillar means serious amounts of money."
The joint effort between the Culture Consciousness Development Foundation and Istanbul University has restored 72 pillars over the last three and a half years, Kayralcı said, adding that the state was only able to restore 57 over a period of 70 years.
Kayralcı invited every person and institution in Turkey to contribute to the protection of humanity’s common heritage so it can be passed on to the next generations.
More information can be obtained by visiting www.kulturbilinci.org, by e-mailing kultur@kulturbilinci.org or by calling 0212 347 24 25.
The project to preserve the archaeological site, located 18 kilometers east of Antalya and two kilometers north of Aksu village, was initiated by the Cultural Consciousness Development Foundation, or Kültür Bilincini Geliştirme Vakfı, in 2004 under the motto, "It is our civic responsibility to save our cultural heritage." The foundation was created to raise awareness about the need to protect Turkey’s rich historical heritage. With the Perge project, it is asking individuals and foundations to contribute to the restoration of the site’s pillars.
Perge was the capital of Pamphylia, which means "land of the tribes" in Greek. The city was established around 1,000 B.C. in an inland part of the district in order to avoid attacks by pirates, which were a common occurrence at the time.
"Excavated systemically by Istanbul University since 1946, the city is very important from the aspect of city planning during the Late Classical, Hellenistic and Roman Empire eras," Professor Haluk Abbasoğlu, an academic in the school’s Faculty of Archeology and head of the Perge excavations, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. "The Perge excavations are the longest-lasting ones conducted by Turks in the field of classical archeology."
Since initiating its Perge project, the Cultural Consciousness Development Foundation, in cooperation with Istanbul University, has raised enough money to restore more than 70 pillars.
Perge’s inclusion on the World Heritage List
"The project has now been restarted with the aim of raising [funds for] 50 more pillars," said foundation member Tijen Kayralcı. "This year’s project has a special meaning in that it will be carried out simultaneously with Perge’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List."
"The donation amount for each pillar is 2,200 Turkish Liras. This can paid by one person, a institution or people and institutions together," said Kayralcı, adding that the pillars restored during this summer’s excavations will be given a plaque bearing the name of the person or institution that provided support.
As the Ministry of Culture generally reserves its support for large-scale projects, Abbasoğlu said, smaller ones like the Perge excavation rely largely on donations from individuals or corporations.
"Marmara Island marble, which is a special kind, is being used in the restoration works. This marble is processed in Afyon, and later brought to the Perge site," he said. "When the cost of the special materials used in the processing of this marble, and their integration with the remains, is added to the labor cost, the overall cost to restore a pillar means serious amounts of money."
The joint effort between the Culture Consciousness Development Foundation and Istanbul University has restored 72 pillars over the last three and a half years, Kayralcı said, adding that the state was only able to restore 57 over a period of 70 years.
Kayralcı invited every person and institution in Turkey to contribute to the protection of humanity’s common heritage so it can be passed on to the next generations.
More information can be obtained by visiting www.kulturbilinci.org, by e-mailing kultur@kulturbilinci.org or by calling 0212 347 24 25.