Back in Ancient Greece, architects built the sanctuaries and dedicated them to the nymphs. While some architects erected ancient temples in honor of forest nymphs, others wanted to appease water nymphs. Later, different city constructions, as well as the fountains, were called Nymphaeums. The Nymphaeum in Side, in the ancient port and resort city on the Mediterranean coast, is considered one of the oldest and most monumental fountains.

Today, looking at this wonder of antique architecture, it is difficult to imagine that it is a fountain. It rather resembles the wall of a three-story building, the facade of which is decorated with high arched niches and slender stone Corinthian columns. Back then, spacious recesses were used to adorn ancient statues. Unfortunately, not everything has survived to this day.

According to historical research, the monumental Nymphaeum played a key role in celebrating the festival known as Epibaterion. Ancient warriors gathered near the fountain, which was the military parade start point. Dressed in ceremonial clothes, they marched along the colonnaded street by the Roman Theater and Agora to the temples of Athena and Apollo, where they ended their procession.

The unique fountain Nymphaeum was built approximately in the 2nd century AD in honor of the former Roman Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus Flavius. A huge water basin is the base of the fountain. Back then, the water came from an ancient stone aqueduct. Only two stories, more than 5 meters high and 35 meters wide, have survived to this day of a three-storied building. Its massive exterior makes an unforgettable impression even nowadays, especially on hot summer days when deep marble niches shine, playing with the southern sun rays. Just imagine how beautiful it was when water trickled off these marble niches or how charming frescoes, which decorated the walls in ancient times, sparkled.