The ruins of the city are located on a hill rising behind the village of Yavu, along the highway between Kaş and Demre. Kyaneai was the second-largest city in central Lycia after Myra. Although no systematic excavations have been carried out, a comprehensive survey of Kyaneai and its surroundings was conducted between 1989 and 2001 by a team led by Frank Kolb. According to Kolb, the Lycian name of the city was Xbahñ.
The earliest finds from the site date to the 6th century BCE. It is generally assumed that, during the Dynastic period, Kyaneai was a small settlement comparable to Tüse, Korba, Trysa, Tyinda, and Hoyran in the region, and that its importance increased following the abandonment of centrally located Zagaba for reasons that remain unclear. From the Hellenistic period onward, the city developed into a polis and became the regional center through the incorporation of several smaller neighboring settlements. Eventually, Kyaneai possessed the largest territorial extent among the cities of the region.
It is believed that the port of Teimiusa was used for the export of agricultural products produced in its extensive and fertile hinterland. The most distinctive Dynastic-period remains are the monumental tombs, while nearly all other visible structures date to the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The Iason Monument
Like his contemporary Opramoas of Rhodiapolis, Iason of Kyaneai became renowned for his benefactions. He was likely the second wealthiest individual in Lycia after Opramoas. Iason also held the office of Lyciarch, the highest magistracy of the Lycian League.
The Iason Monument consists of an inscription located along the ancient road leading from Yavu village to the acropolis of Kyaneai. It records that Iason was honored by the Roman emperor, by other Lycian cities, and by the citizens of Kyaneai. Adjacent to the inscription are a bench and a fountain, suggesting that the monument functioned as a rest stop along the steep ascent to the city.
Tomb of Xudalije
This Dynastic-period sarcophagus is located near the square known as the Lycian Agora in the northwestern part of the acropolis and bears a bilingual Lycian and Greek inscription. Although the monument remained intact during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, its lower section was eventually buried due to later constructions in the surrounding area.
On both broad sides of the ogival lid are reliefs depicting four-horse chariots. Of the pairs of lion-headed protomes on each side of the lid, only one has survived. The narrow sides of the lid feature scenes representing the tomb owner and his family. The inscription (TL 72), which encircles the sarcophagus, gives the name of the owner as “Xudalije, son of Muraza.” The tomb is dated to 380 BCE.
References:
Başgelen, N. (ed.) 2005. Lycian Journal 1892 – Ernst Krickl, Archaeology and Art Publication, İstanbul.
Çevik, N. 2021. Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara.
Hülden, O. 2010. “Die Nekropolen von Kyaneai. Studien zur antiken Grabkultur in Lykien,” in Die Siedlung von Kyaneai in Zentrallykien II, Lykische Studien 9.2, ed. F. Kolb, Bonn.
Kokkina, C. 2001. “Verdiente Ehren: Zu den Inschriften für Opramoas von Rhodiapolis und Iason von Kyaneai,” Antike Welt 32, 17-23.
Kolb, F. 2008. Burg – Polis – Bischofssitz. Geschichte der Siedlungskammer von Kyaneai in der Südwesttürkei, Mainz.
Seyer, M. 2019. “Some Terms for Funerary Monuments of Lycia in the Classical Period 1: Sarcophagi,” in Luwic dialects and Anatolica, BMO vol.12, eds. I.X. Adiego et al., 251-284, Barcelona.
Tietz, W. 2016. “Central Lycia: Kyaneai, Phellos, Kekova,” in From Lukka to Lycia: The Land of Sarpedon and St. Nicholas, eds. H. İşkan & E. Dündar, 362-373, İstanbul.
Zahle J. 1979. “Lykische Felsgräber mit Reliefs aus dem 4. Jh. v. Chr.,” JDI 94, 245–347.
Images:
Başgelen, 2005
W. Tietz, 2016
M. Seyer, 2019
Ertuğrul Anıl, 2022, 2023
Tayfun Bilgin, 2022, 2023, 2025
Bora Bilgin, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025