The city is located to the east of Kaş on a hill 1 km south of Belenli village. Isinda was an independent city that existed since the dynastic period. Its Lycian name was probably Isñta. During the Roman period, Isinda was in the Lycian League. However, since Isinda was not large enough to have a vote of its own, it was represented together with Apollonia and Simena in a sympoliteia under the leadership of Aperlai.
Six pillar tombs and some rock-cut tombs with Lycian inscriptions are the most noticeable examples of the Classical Period monuments. Traces of terraces and fortification walls can still be seen on the slopes of the hill.
At the southeast of the acropolis, there is a heroon-like grave with a sarcophagus (now demolished) placed on top of a rock-carved chamber. No excavation work has been carried out in the city yet.
The Isinda Pillar Tomb
One of the pillar tombs in Isinda (P5) is distinguished from the others by the reliefs surrounding its burial chamber. It was discovered by Heberdey and Kalinka in 1895, and the reliefs were cut from the tomb and transferred to the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. These reliefs depict scenes of combat, hunting, and feasting, likely reflecting aspects of the life of the tomb’s owner, who was probably a dynast. The tomb is dated to the 6th century BCE and is considered one of the oldest pillar tombs in Lycia.
References:
Akurgal, E. 1941. Griechische Reliefs des VI. Jahrhunderts aus Lykien, Berlin.
Çevik, N. 2021. Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara.
Dinç, S. 2008. Hellenizm ve Roma Likyası’nda Sympoliteia’lar, Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Marmara Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
Mendel, G. 1912. Catalogue des sculptures grecques, romaines et byzantines du Musée de Constantinople, Vol. I, Constantinople.
Özhanlı, M. 2002. ‘İsinda Dikme Anıtı’, Adalya 5, 73–106.
Image sources:
G. Mendel, 1912
E. Akurgal, 1941
M. Özhanlı, 2002
Tayfun Bilgin, 2022
Bora Bilgin, 2022, 2023
Reha Özer, 2023