For centuries, the ancient city of Side on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast has been known for its monumental architecture, harbor, temples, and Roman remains. But beneath the stone streets and columns, another part of its history has remained far more difficult to understand: its language.
Now, ongoing research at Side Ancient City has revealed an important development in the study of one of Anatolia’s lost languages.
Researchers working on ancient inscriptions have identified a total of 31 letters belonging to the Sidetic alphabet, expanding the previously recognized alphabet and opening new possibilities for understanding the language once spoken there.
A Forgotten Language of Ancient Anatolia
Sidetic, or Sidece in Turkish, was spoken in ancient Side more than 2,000 years ago.
Unlike Greek, which later became dominant across much of Anatolia, Sidetic belongs to the family of native Anatolian languages and is considered related to the broader Luwian linguistic tradition, alongside languages such as Lycian and Carian.
Although inscriptions written in Sidetic have been known for decades, the language remains only partially understood.
One of the biggest challenges has always been the limited amount of surviving material. Most previously discovered inscriptions contained only a few lines of text, making interpretation difficult and slowing attempts to reconstruct vocabulary and grammar.
New Discoveries Are Changing the Picture
Research at Side Ancient City, carried out under Türkiye’s cultural heritage initiatives, has produced new inscriptions that may significantly improve understanding of the language.
The work is being led by archaeologist Prof. Dr. Feriştah Alanyalı, together with linguists Michaela Zinko and Alfredo Rizza, in collaboration with international researchers.
Recent discoveries include not only additional Sidetic inscriptions but also bilingual texts and unusually long inscriptions containing around 30 to 40 lines.
These longer texts are particularly important because they provide more repeated patterns, context, and opportunities for comparison.
As a result of this ongoing analysis, researchers now report that the known Sidetic alphabet has expanded from 26 to 31 identified letters.
This does not mean a complete decipherment of the language has been achieved. Instead, scholars now have a broader alphabetic framework that may allow future readings to become more accurate.
The Mystery of “Siruawn” and the Name of Side
Among the most intriguing observations are recurring words appearing in Sidetic inscriptions.
Researchers studying these texts increasingly suggest that the forms “Siruawn” and “Siruawan” may refer directly to the city of Side itself.
If confirmed through further study, these terms could provide new evidence for understanding the origin of the city’s ancient name.
The discovery may also strengthen long-standing discussions connecting the name Side with the pomegranate, a symbol closely associated with the city and frequently shown on its ancient coinage.
Before Greek Dominance
The findings contribute to a broader archaeological question: what was Side before becoming part of the Hellenistic world?
Ancient literary traditions describe settlers arriving from Kyme and eventually adopting the local language already spoken in the region.
While such accounts should be interpreted carefully, they suggest that Side preserved a strong local identity before Greek became dominant following the campaigns of Alexander the Great.
Even after major political changes across Anatolia, evidence indicates that local traditions and writing systems continued to survive for generations.
Sources
• Anadolu Ajansı, Anadolu’nun kayıp dili “Sidece”de 31 harf tespit edildi
• Side Ancient City excavation statements, Prof. Dr. Feriştah Alanyalı
• Recent reporting on Sidetic inscription research and Anatolian languages
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