Street System
Since Sillyon was founded on a rough terrain, instead of urban planning or transportation network systems, which are in the form of existing templates and applied almost in the same scheme, original implementations as allowed by the topography and terrain were put to practice. During the surveys carried out in the city, three main streets were identified; it was observed that the street system developed around these main streets in a way as the topography allowed. Streets have two common points: Firstly, they start from the Main City Gate, and the other is that their connection point is the Acropolis. These three streets are named as Main Street, Acropolis Street and Ramped Street.
Main Street
Main Street starts from the Main City Gate, extends northward for about 325 m and reaches Gate 2. From there, it continues in the northeast direction for approximately 200 m, makes an elbow and connects to Gate 4 after approximately 35 m in the southeast direction but it does not terminate there. From this gate, it continues for about 43 m in the same direction and ends at the Acropolis North Gate. However, considering the topography, it is obvious that the only road used to reach the Acropolis by carriage or with a load was this street throughout Sillyon’s history. Apparently, the street has a width of approximately 3 to 3.50 m and these dimensions are suitable for carriages. Hence, the street coming from the Main City Gate gradually ascends and connects to the Acropolis with a slight inclination. Parts of the road pavement are visible at places. The last part of the Main Street before connecting to the North Gate is distinctive. It has an average width of 3.90 to 4.80 m and does not offer a standard size. The west wall of the street was built with fine cut stones but the eastern wall was created by hewing out bedrock on which the Acropolis rises. The west wall is 12 m above the ground where the street connects to the Acropolis North Gate. In this part of the Main Street, different implementations are noted in the east and west walls. On the eastern wall, which was hewn out of bedrock, three niches or votive cells were cut. On the west wall, there are two rectangular slots positioned side by side and their location and structure suggest that statues or pedestals erected here in that period. Consequently, the area was enlarged during the Roman Imperial period, the eastern wall was articulated with niches and the western wall with sculpture and perhaps similar works. It can be said that the 43-meter-long last section of the Main Street was intended to become an important unit and designed rather for landscape and urban splendour.
Main Street, before the Acropolis
Ramped Street
The Ramped Street starts from the Main City Gate and extends for approximately 360 m in the northeast direction, and connects to Gate 5, which provides access to the Acropolis in the northwest. This street ascends right from the start depending on the terrain and forms a ramp until it terminates. Due to this structural property, it was named the Ramped Street. The west side of the street was raised and supported with buttresses at certain intervals due to wavy terrain on the route of the street, and its elevation reaches up to 12 m at places. Some characteristic implementations specific to Sillyon were attested on the structure.
The street continues for approximately 360 meters from the Main City Gate and spaces called Units were added at certain intervals. In particular, these units were built at regular intervals with the same layout and architectural characteristics. In general, the units and the western wall of the street were highly ornate and magnificent, while the eastern wall was built with a simpler and thicker system. The top of these three units in the Ramped Street was covered, just like the colonnaded streets. The Ramped Street naturally protected from the sun and the rain, allowing residents to walk more comfortably. There are windows of 1.80 m width, 0.50 m depth and 2.26 m height, lined up side by side at all units. Ramped Street is understood to have had a processional-ceremonial or trade-related function rather than a defence aspect. Based on the available data and evidence, it can be said that it existed since the Roman Imperial period (probably since the second century AD) and was used until the thirteenth century AD and maybe later.
Ramped Street form the west
Acropolis Street
This street starts from the Main City Gate extending in the northeast direction and turns east from the east of Bastion 1; after stretching across for about 62 m, it curves and connects to the Acropolis via the Acropolis South Gate. Since it is the shortest route to the Acropolis and continues directly in the Acropolis direction, it is named as Acropolis Street. It can be stated that it is not suitable for vehicle traffic due to both its width and steepness, but it was designed rather for pedestrian circulation. Thus, even today, those who want to reach the Acropolis in a shortcut prefer this street. Like the Ramped Street, it was in use since the Roman Imperial period (probably the second century AD) until the Turkish-Islamic period.
Acropolis Street