The city is located on a hill to the south of the town of Üzümlü in the Fethiye district of Muğla. It was first identified by Charles Fellows in 1840. The Lycian name of the city is Kadawanti. Coins bearing its Lycian name suggest that Kadyanda was an independent city during the dynastic period. It may most probably have been connected to Caria in the 4th century BCE, but it is known that Kadyanda was a member of the Lycian League during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Although there are monumental tombs dating to the 5th century BCE from the dynastic period, the majority of the ruins spread across the hill date to the Roman period.
Apart from the partial cleaning of the theater building in 1992, no excavations had been carried out previously. The first official excavations began in 2022. The south-facing theater building, located in the southeast of the city, is dated to the end of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 1st century BCE. Although 20 rows of seats are partially preserved, the stage building has been destroyed. The city’s agora and a one-sided stadium are located to the northwest of the theater. To the north of these are the remains of a bath, a temple, and a large street passing through the ruins. Most of the tombs on the slopes of the hill are Lycian rock tombs.
Salas Tomb Monument
Despite being fragmented and scattered, it is the most prominent monumental tomb structure in Kadyanda. The tomb features reliefs on the front and both sides. On the front face, there is a bearded male figure holding an oenochoe, with the name “Salas” inscribed just to the left of the figure. There are combat scenes on both sides of the tomb. The base of the tomb was carved from a single rock block with a three-step foundation. The upper section of the monument has been destroyed, and its parts are scattered around. Reliefs found among the scattered pieces, which were drawn by Fellows, depict several individuals identified by names written beside them, some in Greek and others in Lycian (TL 32).Fellows suggested that this tomb monument may have belonged to Salas, the father of Hecatomnus. However, J. Borchhardt and G. Neumann argue that the tomb was built by Salas for his wife, who was related to the family of Hecatomnus. The tomb is dated to the 5th century BCE. Today, almost all parts of the monument are either buried underground or covered with moss and brushwood.
Uzebeẽmi Tomb Monument
This monumental tomb has survived to the present day in better condition than the Salas Monument. Rich reliefs appear on both sides of the tomb, carved in the typical style of a Lycian wooden house. However, the relief details are highly weathered. The relief on the south side shows a male figure reclining on a kline, while the north side depicts a helmeted mounted warrior fighting enemies. The Lycian inscription (TL 33)on the northern side indicates that the tomb was built by or for Uzebeẽmi. Borchhardt and Neumann date this monument to the second quarter of the 4th century BCE due to its stylistic similarity to the Pajawa sarcophagus in Xanthos.
References:
Başgelen, N. (ed.) 2005. Lycian Journal 1892 – Ernst Krickl, Archaeology and Art Publication, İstanbul.
Benndorf, O. & G. Niemann. 1884. Reisen in Lykien und Karien (Reisen im südwestlichen Kleinasien I), Wien.
Borchhardt, J. & Neumann, G. 1968. “Dynastische Grabanlagen von Kadyanda,” AA 174-238.
Çevik, N. 2021. Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara.
Döğerli-Başerkafaoğlu, P. 2023. “Surveys in the Necropolis of Cadianda,” Cedrus XI, 215-232.
Fellows, C. 1841. An Account of Discoveries of Lycia: Being a Journal Kept During a Second Excursion in Asia Minor, London.
Fellows, C. 1847. Lycia, Caria, Lydia, illustrated Mr. George Scharf with descriptive letter-press by Sir Charles Fellows, London.
Kalinka, E. 1901. Tituli Asiae Minoris, Vol.1, Vindobonae.
Wurster, W. W. 1980. “Survey antiker Stadte in Lykien,” Actes du Colloque sur la Lycie antique, 27-36.
Image sources:
British Museum Collection
C. Fellows, 1847
O. Benndorf & G. Niemann, 1884
E. Kalinka, 1901
J. Borchhardt & G. Neumann, 1968
W. W. Wurster, 1980
N. Başgelen, 2005
P. Döğerli-Başerkafaoğlu, 2023
Tayfun Bilgin, 2022, 2025
Bora Bilgin, 2022, 2024