Lycia Guide

Arykanda

2011-05-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

The site of the ancient settlement is to be found near a small hamlet called Aykırıçay, part of the settlement of Arif, on the road from Elmalı to Fenike, Arykanda was invaded by the Persians in the V century B.C., and was annexed by Alexander The Great in 333 B.C. it remained under the rule of the Ptolemaios dynasty on his death, and was then taken by the Seleucids. It was annexed to Rhodes during the Apemaia pact, and formed an independent confederation together with the Apemaia pact, and formed an independent confederation together with the other citioes of Lycia, minting coins as a amember of the confederation. The confederation lasted until 43 A.D., when it was disbanded by the Emperor Claudius and Arykanda was annexed to Rome, along with the rest of region. It survived the Byzantine era, when it became known as Akalan, until the 9. century A.D., when the settlement moved to a new site south of the modern road. The site is extensive, stretching from the source of the Aykırıçay spring to the slopes of Şahinkaya, where it rises in terraces, closely-packed against the rock face. On the uppermost terrace can be seen a stadium, wiyh one face. On the uppermost from his stadium to the terrace below, which contains a well-preserved theatre, a small structure the auditorium of which rests on the natural slope of the hill. This building dates to II centurc A.D. Greak inscription friezes can be seen lining the top two terraces of the twentyrow auditorium.

On the terrace belowrests the odeon of Arykanda, which was uncovered during wxcavations led by the Turkish archaeologisy, Professor Cevdet Bayburtoğlu in 1978. The main entrance to the odeon is to the south, though a triple portal. The interior was lined with orthostat and was apparantly revetted polychrome marble. A frieze over the portal bears a portrait of the Emperor Hadrian flanked by cartouches bearing masks and heads of deities in relief.

One of the two portals to the rear of the odeon, to the east of the building opens onto the inclining road leading to the terrace wall of the theatre. The other portal, to the west, opens onto the stepped way leading around the agora of the town. The ode on portico, which measures 75mx8m. is decorated with mosaic some of the shops on the eastern face of the agora can , still be seen, and on the site lies the remains of what was once the agora shrine, amidst a cluster of trees. To the west of the theatre and the agora stands the bouleuterion, or council chamber, the tribunes of which are carved out of the rock face. A long stoa stretches beyond the front of this structure. Between the bouleuterion and the agora can be found a small ruined bath and fountain, and the remains of a larger fountain are to be seen below the agora.

From the surviving sections of the baths, it is plain that the estern section was used as a terrace for it has an extraordinary view. Next to the baths stands a gymnasium, and close by is a house bearing an inscription. The eastern necropolis of the town stretches over the terraces above the baths, while the western necropolis stretches from the source of the Aykiricay to the gorges just west of the city. Close to the baths lies a mausoleum in the form of a temple with. podium, in antis in plan, with a corinthian facade. A lionfigured relief decorates the facade. An inscription on the tomb gives the name of the owner. The necropolis also contains a number of vaulted tombs and sarcophagi. Close to the Aykiricay spring are to be seen a number of rock tombs and some interesting rock-cut water channels.

From the surviving sections of the baths, it is plain that the estern section was used as a terrace for it has an extraordinary view. Next to the baths stands a gymnasium, and close by is a house bearing an inscription. The eastern necropolis of the town stretches over the terraces above the baths, while the western necropolis stretches from the source of the Aykiricay to the gorges just west of the city. Close to the baths lies a mausoleum in the form of a temple with. podium, in antis in plan, with a corinthian facade. A lionfigured relief decorates the facade. An inscription on the tomb gives the name of the owner. The necropolis also contains a number of vaulted tombs and sarcophagi. Close to the Aykiricay spring are to be seen a number of rock tombs and some interesting rock-cut water channels.

Pamphylia and Pisidia

2011-04-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

The best-known cities of ancient Pamphylia are Antalya, Side, Aspendos and Perge, which are easily accesible to all. Will be discussing these cities at length elsewhere and would like here to make mention of a few of the lesser-known, out of the way Pamphylian sites.

If you have a time, a trip to Pamphylia Seleucia located 23 km from Side in a forest setting is recommended where the ancient city's agora sorrounded by galleries in the village of Manavgat-Şıhlar are still standing. Beside the agora are the remains of a bouleterion (city hall) heroon and baths. Sillyon however located 29 km off the main road, is in a very poor state of preservation and all that may be seen are a tower and a few remains on the acropolis.

The mountainous region immediately north of Antalya was known as Pisidia in ancient times. Located 20 km from Antalya on the road to Korkuteli are the ruins of Termessos, a site that you should be sure not to miss. Another Pisidian city is Selge, located 63 km from Manavgat in the town of Beşkonak. The road is rather daunting and takes one over a bridge remaining from Roman times. At Selge are a theater, a stadium, an agora, a necroppolis, a stoa, and templates to Zeus and Artemis. On the Antalya-Burdur road are a number of medieval khans (caravanserais) built by the Seljuks to accommodate travelers between the coast and their capital in Konya. Susuz built in 1230, as well as İncirli and Kırkgöz. Evdir khan, built in 1214, is on the road to Korkuteli, while on the road to Alanya is Şarapsa khan built in 1236 and Alara khan built in 1231, as well as many others.

Another important Pisidian site is that of Sagalassos, near Ağlasun. Here one may see remains from Hellenistic and Roman times. The road leading to it is short but rather tortuous. Here one may see a monumental propylon, a main street, a temple dedicated to Emperor Antoninus, two agoras, a theater, a fountain, and the Valentianus monument. The ruins are very impressive. At Ariassos on the Antalya-Burdur highway howeverthere remains very little to be seen.

12 kilometers from Bucak in Burdur are the ruins of Kremna near the village of Çamlık. Here are the remains of an agora, a theater, a stoa, a colonnaded street decorated with anumber monuments, numerous temples, and the remains of large buildings. Hacılar in Burdur is a site where excavations have turned up important finds from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. While there are numerous other cities besides these in Pisidia, it is impossible eveb to mention them all much less visit them sinceso many sites are extremely remote and unexplored. Let us retrace our steps to the coast and, after visit to Alanya, head for the third and last ancient region of the Turkish Mediterranean-- Cilicia

Lycia

2011-03-10T13:08:00.000-08:00

The first leg of our journey will take us along the coast as far as Antalya. On our way from Mugla to Fethiye, we can make a stop at the ruins of Caunos in Koycegiz-Dalyan. Although Caunos was located in ancient Caria, the rock tombs that are characteristic of Lycia begin here. Fethiye is concerned as the center of the ancient Lycian region. This town is located on the site of . ancient Telmessos and the Lycian rock tombs in the cliffs above have become a symbol of Fethiye. Near Fethiye on the road to Antalya are the interesting ruins of Pinara in the village of Minare. Here one may see more rock tombs, a theater, and an agora. At Uzumlu are the beautiful although difficult to reach remains of Kadyanda. To their north are the ruins of Araxa and Oinoanda. At Dodurga on the Fethiye-Kas road are rock tombs and the ruins of Sidyma, which include the remains of an agora, a temple, and baths.

A road branching off the Korkuteli highway takes us to the ruins of Tlos in the village of Kaleasar. Noteworthy here are the remains of a theater and baths, an acropolis, and a medieval citadel in which Lycian rock tombs are to be found. Heading in the direction of Antalya, we have a chance to see the ruins of Xanthos, Patara, and Letoon. The pretty little town of Kas is located on the site of ancient Antiphellos. There are numerous Lycian cities in the vicinity and house-shaped rock tombs and Lycian sarcophagi with their typical pointed covers abound. It is rather difficult however to reach some of the ancient Lycian sites located between Kas and Finike and, because they have not been excavated yet, there is not really very much to see so we will mention just a few of them. At the ancient city of Trysa, located just before you reach Gurses, there are sarcophagi and the remains of a heroon (a shrine dedicated to a deified or semi-deified dead person) and a temple. After this comes Sura, where there are the remains of an Apollo temple and a Byzantine church. Kapakli is the site of ancient Istalada and there is a small castle and a rock tomb with reliefs there. Kyaenai, near Yavu, is located on the steep cliffs by the highway. Its acropolis is surrounded by walls on three sides. Within the walls are the remains of numerous structures whose functions are unknown. Inside a heroon is a sarcophagus decorated with reliefs from the 4th century B.C. The theater, which dates to the 2nd century, is in rather good condition. The eastern side of the acropolis was the city's necropolis. On the southern side there stands a single Ionian-order column and a rock tomb with a temple-like facade.

Apollonia, located in Kilincli on the road to Kekova, is surrounded by a small wall. Here one may see a Byzantine basilica, a small theater, the remains of a bath, a heroon, and a six unusual sarcophagi from the 4th century B.C. In the middle of the acropolis of Isinda, located at Belenli, there are three house-shaped tombs that bear inscriptions in the Lycian language. Phellos, located on the Fellen plateau, can be reached from Cukurbag, but there is little besides the city's wall to see here. At Nysa, located in Meryemlik near Sutlegen, the tombs are in the form of individual heroons. Also to be found here are a theater that could seat seven or eight hundred and the traces of a stoa and agora. Turning off the Finike - Kas road at kilometer 30 takes us to Kekova. Ucagiz can also be reached overland. The sites of Simena and Aperlai and the island of Kekova itself however can only be reached by sea.

Myra is one of the more important sites in this region. Its port was Ahdriake,located at present-day Cayagil. Today one may see there the remains of a grain silo that was built in 129.

After visiting Limyra, near Finike, we may proceed in the direction of Elmali. At the village of Arif are the rather well-preserved ruins of Arykanda. If we follow the coast road on the other hand, we can. make a stop at the ruins of Olympos at Cirali between Kemer and Adrasan. Phaselis, located in Tekirova at kilometer 35 on the Antalya-Finike highway, marks the boundary of ancient Lycia and the beginning of the region known as Pamphylia.

The Mediterranean Region

2011-03-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

The Mediterranean region begins at Marmaris and extends along the coast eastward as far as Antakya. The coast is flanked by the Toros mountains inland whose rich forest cover provides a harmonious contrast with the blue waters of the Mediterranean over whic they tower.The region known in ancient times as Lycia began at the Dalaman river and extended eastward as far as Phaselis, near present-day Antalya. Thereafter began Pamphylia, which continued as far as present-day Alanya, and that was followed by the region known as Cilicia. The mountainous hinterland above Antalya was then known as Pisidia.