# Lycian Monuments --- ## Pages - [General Information about Lycians](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/general-information/): A brief information about Lycia and the Lycian civilization, their history in Dynastic, Hellenistic and Roman periods, the Lycian League, and Lycian tombs. --- ## Posts - [Patara](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/patara/): Patara is one of the biggest cities of ancient Lycia. The city lived its golden age as the capital of the Lycian state during the Roman period. - [Letoon](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/letoon/): Letoon is a religious center dedicated to mother goddess, and was a pilgrimage site for all Lycian cities. It was the official cult center of the Lycian League. - [Tymnessos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tymnessos/): Tymnessos is located on the Elmalı - Kalkan road, near Bezirgan village, at a strategic location that controls the mountain pass between Kaş, Elmalı and Kınık. - [Sidyma](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/sidyma/): Sidyma is in the Dodurga Village of the Seydikemer district of Muğla. It is one of the 23 cities of the first Lycian League founded in 168 BCE. - [Pinara](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/pinara/): The city of Pinara is located on the eastern slopes of Baba Dağı to the east of Fethiye Bay. The Lycian name of the city is Pinale (or Pilleñni). - [Tlos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tlos/): An important Lycian metropol Tlos is located on the eastern side of the Xanthos Valley at the foot of the Kragos Mts. The Lycian name of the city is Tlawa. - [Karmylassos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/karmylassos/): Karmylassos is located on the peninsula south of Fethiye. Today, it is called Levissi or Kayaköy. The only remains of the Lycian city are a few rock tombs. - [Telmessos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/telmessos/): Telmessos is in Fethiye today. The oldest known name of the city is Kuwalapassa. Over the time, it was also called Anastasiopolis, Makri and Meğri. - [Kadyanda](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kadyanda/): The city is located on a hill in the south of the town of Yeşilüzümlü in the Fethiye district of Muğla. The Lycian name of the city is Kadawanti. - [Araxa](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/araxa/): Araxa is located near the Ören village of Seydikemer in Muğla. It was a small city but strategically located at the northern entrance of the Xanthos Valley. - [Myra](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/myra/): Myra is located in modern day Demre. The city owes its real fame to St. Nicholas, who was the original inspiration for the modern Santa Claus. - [Andriake](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/andriake/): Andriake is the port settlement of Myra, built at the mouth of the Andriakos River. The granarium building in the city now serves as Lycian Civilizations Museum - [Trysa](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/trysa/): Trysa is a small city near Davazlar village on the Demre-Kaş road. One of the most famous Lycian monuments, the Heroon of Trysa, was found in this city. - [Simena](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/simena/): The ancient city of Simena is located directly opposite Kekova Island. Classical Lycian style rock-cut tombs testify to the dynastic period history of the city. - [Tyberissos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tyberissos/): The ancient city of Tyberissos is located on a hill at the eastern end of the Tırmisin (Çevreli) plain. The Lycian name of the city is Tubure. - [Hoyran](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/hoyran/): It is a small settlement established on a hill to the south of Hoyran village, about 4 km inland from the coast. The ancient name of the settlement is unknown. - [Sura](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/sura/): Sura is a small Lycian settlement located behind a hill northeast of the port of Andriake. The Lycian name was Surezi. There was an oracle of Apollon near Sura. - [Istlada](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/istlada/): It is a small settlement about 1 km north of Gökkaya port. Today, the region is known as Hayıtlı. It is surrounded by Hoyran, Tyberissos, Simena and Teimiusa. - [Kyaneai](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kyaneai/): Ruins of Kyaneai are on a hill rising behind the Yavu village, on the highway between Kaş and Demre. It was the second largest city in central Lycia after Myra. - [Dereağzı - Mastaura(?)](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/dereagzi/): Dereağzı is a small Lycian settlement built on a hill where the Tokluca and Kasaba streams meet the Myros river. The Lycian name of the city is unknown. - [Aperlai](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/aperlai/): Aperlai was a Lycian port city between Kaş and Kekova and was the port of Apollonia in the dynastic period. The Lycian name of the city was Aprlla. - [Apollonia](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/apollonia/): Apollonia ruins are on a hill near Sahilkılınçlı village, 3 km north of Aperlai. It is likely that the city got its name from the Hellenistic period god Apollo. - [Isinda](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/isinda/): 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 dynastic period. - [Phellos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/phellos/): Phellos is located on the Felen plateau, at an altitude of 850 m, to the north of Kaş (Antiphellos) which was the port settlement of the ancient city. - [Antiphellos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/antiphellos/): Antiphellos was founded as the port of Phellos. By developing trade activities, it grew much larger than Phellos. Lycian name of the city is Wehinta. - [Kandyba](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kandyba/): The ancient city of Kandyba is next to the Çataloluk (Gendive) village on the Elmalı-Kaş road. The Lycian name of the settlement was Xãkbi. - [Tüse](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tuse/): It is most likely a dynastic period settlement which is located 6 km northwest of Kyaneai. The ancient name of the settlement is unknown. - [Neisa](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/neisa/): Neisa is located on the Meryemlik hill near the Sütlegen village of Kaş. Although it was a relatively small settlement, Neisa was a member of the Lycian League. - [Rhodiapolis](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/rhodiapolis/): The city is located on a hill overlooking the fertile plain, just northwest of Kumluca. Rhodiapolis forms the eastern border of cultural Lycia. - [Korydalla](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/korydalla/): The ancient city of Korydalla was established at the west of Kumluca, only 2 km southeast of Rhodiapolis. The city has almost no structural remnants left today. - [Olympos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/olympos/): It is a port city located on the west coast of the Gulf of Antalya. Olympos was one of the six cities of the Lycian League with 3 voting rights. - [Asartaş (Tomb of Apollonias - Topal Gavur)](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/asartas/): It is located near the village of Yazır, about 5 km east of Olympos. The ruins of the small settlement on a rocky hill are called Asartaş. - [Phaselis](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/phaselis/): Phaselis is located on a small peninsula at the west coast of the Gulf of Antalya. Although geographically it is in Lycia, culturally it is not Lycian. - [Pygela](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/pygela/): It is located on Kepez Hill, near the village of Güzören, 12 km from Kumluca. Until the discovery of Patara Road Monument, identity of the ruins was not known. - [Idebessos](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/idebessos/): The city is located at the southwest end of the Bey Mountains, 3 km north-northwest of Akalissos. It was first identified by Spratt and Forbes in 1842. - [Arykanda](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/arykanda/): Ancient Lycian city of Arykanda is located midway between Elmalı and Finike, on a mountain pass which connects the coastal cities to Northern Lycia. - [Kitanaura](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kitanaura/): Kitanaura is near the village of Saraycık, 42 km north of Kumluca district of Antalya. The most striking monuments is the "Heroon of Kitanaura". - [Mnara](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/mnara/): The ancient Lycian city of Mnara is located on Mt. Kavak, 37 km southwest of Antalya. In the Hellenistic Period the name of the city was converted to Marmara. - [Onobara](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/onobara/): Onobara appears to be the easternmost settlement of Lycia in the Patara Road Monument. It is on the south end of Deveboynu hill, east of Gedeller in Antalya. - [Typallia](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/typallia/): Typallia is located on a steep and rocky hill to the north of the Çitdibi, about 30 km from Antalya. It is at the road junction between Trebenna and Kitanaura. - [Trebenna](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/trebenna/): Trebenna is the northeasternmost city of Lycia, and located about 32 km west of Antalya. Trebenna was included in the Lycian League during the Roman Period. - [Kibyra](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kibyra/): Kibyra is located 110 km southwest of Burdur, near Gölhisar. It is the last city in the north of the Lycian road route shown in the Patara Road Monument. - [Bubon](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/bubon/): Bubon is located on Dikmen Tepe, near the village of Ibecik in Gölhisar, Burdur. The city is famous with bronze sculpture finds in the sebasteion structure. - [Balboura](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/balboura/): Balboura is located in Karaçulha locality of Altınyayla district of Burdur. It is a member of Kibyratis Tetrapolis together with Oinoanda, Bubon and Kibyra. - [Oinoanda / Oenoanda](https://www.lycianmonuments.com/oinoanda/): Ruins of Oinoanda is located near the village of İncealiler in the Seydikemer district of Muğla. The city is famous with the Diogenes Inscription monument. --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages > A brief information about Lycia and the Lycian civilization, their history in Dynastic, Hellenistic and Roman periods, the Lycian League, and Lycian tombs. - Published: 2022-05-10 - Modified: 2025-02-06 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/general-information/ Lycians are one of the original Anatolian civilizations. Their country is today's Teke peninsula on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea which is located between Antalya and Fethiye. The Lycian language is one of the ancient Anatolian languages of Indo-European origin, a relative of Hittite and Luwian. They called their country "Trm̃mis" and themselves "Trm̃mili" in their own language. Although the name Lycia is thought to be given by the Greeks, its origin may be older. The country of "Lukka," which is mentioned in various ancient sources, especially the Hittite, has been associated with the Lycian region for a long time. Excavations and investigations take the history of the Lycian region back to the Paleolithic ages. However, the emergence of monumental structures, which is the main focus of this website, begins in the middle of the 6th century BCE. The influence of the original Lycian culture continued to show itself in the monumental structures of the Hellenistic and Roman periods that followed. Dynastic Period: It is also called the classical period of Lycia. The Dynastic period begins with the Persian domination of Lycia along with all of Anatolia starting from 546 BCE. During this period the Lycian cities were ruled by local rulers (dynasts) who paid taxes to the Persians. Urban administration and the first city coins begin in this period. In the second half of the 5th century BCE, which was the scene of conflicts between the Greeks and Persians, the cities of Lycia briefly supported the Delian League.... --- --- ## Posts > Patara is one of the biggest cities of ancient Lycia. The city lived its golden age as the capital of the Lycian state during the Roman period. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/patara/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The city is located at the southwest end of the Xanthos Valley, where the Xanthos River (Eşen Stream) meets the sea. The name of the city is also mentioned in the 13th century BCE Hittite texts. Its Lycian name is Pttara. The city, which has existed since the Bronze Age, stands out as the main port of the region in the dynastic period. In the Hellenistic period, there was a prophecy center in the name of Apollo. During the period of the Lycian League, the political importance of the city increased with 3 voting rights. Patara lived its golden age as the capital of the Lycian state during the Roman period. Although its political importance decreased during the Byzantine period, Patara continued to be a great metropolis. The city lost its importance by the 14th century CE, as the port filled with alluvium of the Xanthos River lost its function. Although the first traveler to mention the ruins of the city was Richard Pococke in 1745, the first researchers to visit the city were the Society of Dilettanti team headed by William Gell in 1811. The first modern excavation work was carried out in 1952, and regular excavation and restoration works, which started in 1988 under the direction of Fahri Işık, are still continuing uninterruptedly under the direction of Havva İşkan Işık. The structures belonging to the dynastic and Hellenistic periods remained 3-4 meters under the filling soil, which rendered the port dysfunctional. The most important buildings remaining from the dynastic... --- > Letoon is a religious center dedicated to mother goddess, and was a pilgrimage site for all Lycian cities. It was the official cult center of the Lycian League. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/letoon/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Letoon is a religious center located about 4 km from the city of Xanthos. According to the researchers, the history of Letoon developed in parallel with the city of Xanthos. It is thought that a sacred place was built around a water source located here and that it was dedicated to the mother goddess, who is named Eni Mahanahi in Lycian.  Eni Mahanahi and her two children, Ertemi and Natri, are known as Leto, Artemis, and Apollon in the Hellenistic period. Letoon was a site of pilgrimage since early times. As this sacred place was the official cult center of the Lycian League in the Hellenistic period, it was the most important sanctuary for all Lycia, where the resolutions of the league were announced to the public. The city takes its name from Leto, the sacred goddess of Lycia. A triple cult of worship was formed by including Leto and his twin children Apollo and Artemis. The entire settlement was arranged for this cult. There are three temples built side by side in the city center. According to the inscriptions and other findings, it is thought that the westernmost of the temples is dedicated to Leto, and the easternmost is to Apollo. The smaller one in the middle is for Artemis. Because of the presence of a large piece of bedrock in the middle of the Temple of Artemis, it is thought that there may have been a rock worship in the Archaic period. The site was first identified by Richard Hoskyn in 1841 while trying to... --- > Tymnessos is located on the Elmalı - Kalkan road, near Bezirgan village, at a strategic location that controls the mountain pass between Kaş, Elmalı and Kınık. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tymnessos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Tymnessos is located on the Elmalı-Kalkan road, to the north of Bezirgan village, at a strategic location that controls the mountain pass between Kaş, Elmalı, and Kınık. The name of the city is mentioned as Tuminehi in Lycian sources. Tuminehi's port settlement Etrituminehi (Artymnessos) is thought to be located at modern-day Kalkan. The ancient road, coming from the south and passing through the east of the acropolis hill, extends towards the mountain pass in the north. Acropolis hill was surrounded by walls, but there isn't any identified structure. There is a castle structure 300 meters above the acropolis. Most of the burial sites are found along this road. There are many pigeonhole-type rock tombs on the east-facing side of the acropolis cliffs. The most striking tomb structure is the house-type rock tomb decorated with rich reliefs at the southernmost end of the ancient road. The chambers on the rocks to the left of the northern passage are dated to the dynastic period. According to Borchhardt, one of these might be a nymphaion and the other a cult area probably dedicated to Apollo and Artemis. Another monument dating to the dynastic period is a pillar tomb with a niche on its steep face. Because of the existence of this niche, Borchhardt says it could be a cenotaph. So far, no excavation work has been carried out in Tymnessos. References:Benndorf, O. & G. Niemann. 1884. Reisen in Lykien und Karien (Reisen im südwestlichen Kleinasien I), Wien. Borchhardt, J. , G. Neumann &... --- > Sidyma is in the Dodurga Village of the Seydikemer district of Muğla. It is one of the 23 cities of the first Lycian League founded in 168 BCE. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/sidyma/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Sidyma is in the Dodurga Village of the Seydikemer district of Muğla. It is one of the 23 cities of the first Lycian League, founded in 168 BCE. According to the Patara Road Monument, it is 104 stades (approximately 20 km) from Xanthos. Starting with Charles Fellows, most of the 19th-century travelers mention the city and the modern-day village of Dodurga, which was established next to the ancient Sidyma. Since then, the modern village has grown and spread over the existing ruins. Except for a few land surveys, no excavation work has been carried out. The port settlement Kalabatia, which is said to be located 4. 5 km from Sidyma on the Patara Road Monument, might have served as the port of Sidyma. There are nearly a hundred tomb structures in Sidyma in varying styles, the oldest of which date back to the 5th century BCE. More than half of these are pigeonhole-type simple rock tombs. The earliest remains of the city belong to the dynastic period. The remains of the fortification walls built in the dynastic and Hellenistic periods can be seen on the skirts of the acropolis hill rising to the southwest of the city center. Of a theater building leaning on the acropolis hill, only the top steps are visible. All of the agora, stoa, sebasteion, bath, and gymnasion structures on the plain in front of the theater belong to the Roman period. No temple structure has been identified other than the sebasteion. There are also remains... --- > The city of Pinara is located on the eastern slopes of Baba Dağı to the east of Fethiye Bay. The Lycian name of the city is Pinale (or Pilleñni). - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/pinara/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The city of Pinara is located on the eastern slopes of the South Antikragos Mountains (Baba Dağı) to the east of Fethiye Bay and overlooks the Xanthos Valley. It was built on terraces rising from 330 meters to 715 meters. It is bordered by the cities of Xanthos in the south and Tlos in the northeast. The Lycian name of the city was Pinale (or Pilleñni). Ancient writers rarely mention Pinara. Charles Fellows was the first to identify the city in the modern period. Since no excavation work has been carried out yet, the oldest findings do not go back any further than the dynastic period, but it is known to be much older because the name of the city is also mentioned as Pinali in the 13th century BCE Hittite texts. There are coins minted with the name of the city from the dynastic period. It was also one of the first cities to mint money under the name of the Lycian League in the 2nd century BCE. In the Roman period, as stated by Strabo, Pinara was one of the 6 big cities in the Lycian League with 3 voting rights each. However, in later periods, Pinara lost this privileged right to Telmessos, which grew rapidly thanks to its large port. Pinara continued to exist as a bishopric center from the Byzantine period until the 12th century. Except for the fortification walls in the upper acropolis, which are surrounded by steep slopes, there is no Hellenistic structure in... --- > An important Lycian metropol Tlos is located on the eastern side of the Xanthos Valley at the foot of the Kragos Mts. The Lycian name of the city is Tlawa. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-05-24 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tlos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Tlos is located on the eastern side of the Xanthos Valley, at the foot of the Kragos Mountains (Akdağlar), approximately 25 km north of Xanthos. The site was first identified by Charles Fellows in 1838. The city’s Lycian name was Tlawa, and it appears in Hittite sources as Dalawa. Archaeological research in Tlos and its surrounding area suggests that the region has been inhabited since the 10th millennium BCE. Tlos was one of the most powerful cities of Lycia. According to Strabo, by around 100 BCE, Tlos was one of six major cities with three votes in the Lycian League. The Patara Road Monument shows Tlos at the intersection of seven road routes, emphasizing its strategic importance. Regular excavations have been ongoing since 2005. The dynastic-period settlement was concentrated on the acropolis hill, where the most prominent surviving structures are the rock-cut tombs surrounding the acropolis. During the Hellenistic period, the city expanded eastward from the acropolis, and in the Roman period, the urban center developed across the plain at the acropolis’s base. A notable Roman-period structure is the 148-meter-long stadium, parts of which—including nine rows of seats leaning against the acropolis hill—are still visible today. To the east of the Roman-period city lies a large Roman theater with 37 rows of seats, adjacent to a complex of agora, gymnasium, palaestra, baths, and temples. The theater was originally built during the Hellenistic period and later expanded in Roman times. A unique feature of the theater is the Doric theater temple... --- > Karmylassos is located on the peninsula south of Fethiye. Today, it is called Levissi or Kayaköy. The only remains of the Lycian city are a few rock tombs. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/karmylassos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is located on the peninsula south of Fethiye. Today, it is mostly known for Levissi (Kayaköy), an abandoned Greek village. The only remains of the ancient city are 3 rock tombs and 3 sarcophagi in Gökçeburun, and a rock tomb on the northern slope of the abandoned village of Levissi. Three of the rock tombs have Lycian inscriptions. The name of Karmylassos is not mentioned on the Patara Road Monument. References:Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Image sources:Bora Bilgin, 2022, 2023 --- > Telmessos is in Fethiye today. The oldest known name of the city is Kuwalapassa. Over the time, it was also called Anastasiopolis, Makri and Meğri. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-07 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/telmessos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The oldest known name of the settlement is Kuwalapassa. Over time, it was called with different names such as Anastasiopolis, Makri, and Meğri. The Lycian name of the city is Telebehi. Today it is located in the center of the town of Fethiye in Muğla province. It was the most important port settlement on the western border of Lycia. The westernmost Lycian inscription was found in Telmessos. Although it was not one of the largest and most powerful cities in the Lycian League, in the 5th century BCE, among all of the Lycian cities that supported the Athenian League, Telmessos was the biggest contributor. The city has preserved its value in every period owing to its position as a port overlooking the Glaukos Gulf and the fertile lands around it. During the dynastic period, it came under the control of the powerful dynasts of the region, Albinas and Perikle, and after the death of Alexander, the kingdoms of Ptolemaios, Seleukos, and Pergamon. Although Telmessos joined the Lycian League at a relatively late date in 80 BCE, it was one of the important cities of the league during the Roman period. The first settlement of the city was on two hills called Hıdırlık (or Hızırlık). Tombs and ruins of the city walls can still be seen on the acropolis of this early settlement. Most likely, the settlement moved to the seashore after the dynasts of Xanthos conquered the region in the 5th century BCE. By the Hellenistic period, Telmessos had become... --- > The city is located on a hill in the south of the town of Yeşilüzümlü in the Fethiye district of Muğla. The Lycian name of the city is Kadawanti. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kadyanda/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The city is located on a hill in 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. The city coins bearing its Lycian name suggest that Kadyanda was an independent city during the dynastic period. Most probably it may 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 over the hill date to the Roman period. Other than the partial cleaning of the theater building in 1992, no excavation was carried out in the past. The first official excavations started 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 were partially preserved, the stage building was destroyed. The agora of the city and a one-sided stadium are located to the northwest of the theater building. To the north of them are the remains of a bath, a temple, and a large street passing through these 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... --- > Araxa is located near the Ören village of Seydikemer in Muğla. It was a small city but strategically located at the northern entrance of the Xanthos Valley. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-07 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/araxa/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Araxa is located near the Ören village in the Seydikemer district of Muğla. It was a small city but strategically located at the northern entrance of the Xanthos Valley, which hosts the largest cities of western Lycia. Araxa minted coins under its own name as a member of the Lycian League. It was first identified and mentioned by Spratt and Forbes in the modern period. The Lycian name of the city is Araththi. Other than surface surveys, no regular excavation has been carried out. An inscription found in Araxa in 1948 by George Bean, which is dated to the beginning of the 2nd century BCE, provided important information for both Araxa and Lycian history. It is an honorary inscription that describes the services of Orthagoras, one of the notables of the city of Araxa. The inscription indicates that Orthagoras represented Araxa in the Lycian League and gives information about the wars he participated in and his relations as a representative of Araxa with other cities. This inscription has been an important reference document for determining the date of establishment of the Lycian League. Very few remains have survived from the city of Araxa. There are a few rock-cut tombs of different types and sizes on the left side of the road entering the village. Some of these are house-type tombs imitating wooden houses in the classical Lycian style from the dynastic period. The most striking rock tomb with its temple façade belongs to a later period. There are also the... --- > Myra is located in modern day Demre. The city owes its real fame to St. Nicholas, who was the original inspiration for the modern Santa Claus. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-05-24 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/myra/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The ancient city of Myra is located in modern-day Demre, a district of Antalya. Its port settlement, Andriake, lies about 5 km to the southwest. The city’s Lycian name is thought to have been Muri, possibly derived from the myrrh tree (Commiphora myrrha), used in the production of Myra oil (myrrh). According to Strabo, Myra was one of the six major cities in the Lycian League, each possessing three voting rights. Thanks to its strategic port, Andriake—an important point on the Mediterranean trade routes—and the fertile lands surrounding it, Myra developed into a wealthy and populous metropolis. It served as the principal mint of the region and led a sympoliteia formed with Tyberissos and Teimiusa during the Late Hellenistic period. Myra retained its metropolitan status through the Byzantine period, emerging as Lycia's most important political center with the rise of Christianity. St. Paul visited Myra and Patara in the 1st century BCE during one of his missionary journeys. However, the city gained its greatest fame from St. Nicholas, who, although born in Patara, established his church in Myra in the 4th century CE to promote Christianity. The first modern traveler to document Myra and the harbor of Andriake was Luigi Mayer, who visited between 1776 and 1794 during his travels through the Ottoman Empire. The first comprehensive archaeological surveys were conducted by Jürgen Borchhardt between 1965 and 1968. Regular excavations began in 2009 under the direction of Nevzat Çevik. The ancient city and its port owe both their existence and... --- > Andriake is the port settlement of Myra, built at the mouth of the Andriakos River. The granarium building in the city now serves as Lycian Civilizations Museum - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-05-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/andriake/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Andriake is the port settlement of the city of Myra and was built at the mouth of the Andriakos River. Although there are finds from the dynastic period, the oldest building remains are the Hellenistic period walls. Almost all of the building remains that can be seen today, such as the granarium, bath buildings, agora, synagogue, and churches, belong to the Roman and Byzantine periods. Murex workshops found among the shop buildings around the Agora indicate that purple dye was produced in the city. The purple dye, which is used especially for dyeing fabrics in magenta and purple, is obtained from a sea shell called murex and was a very valuable commercial material in ancient times. By the 7th-8th centuries CE, the port was filled with alluvium and lost its function. Along with Myra, excavations and other scientific studies in Andriake are carried out by Nevzat Çevik. Within the scope of these works, the granarium building was restored and organized as the Lycian Civilizations Museum in 2015. Inscription of the Customs Law (Lex Portorii Provinciae Lyciae) The inscription was found in 1999 during excavations at Andriake by the main street of the ancient port. It includes clauses pertaining to Lycia of the laws that were declared by the Roman Emperor Nero's reform edict in 58 CE. It was probably erected during the reign of C. Licinnius Mucianus, who served as the governor of Lycia from 60 to 62/63 CE. Compared to other similar inscriptions in Anatolia (e. g. , Ephesus... --- > Trysa is a small city near Davazlar village on the Demre-Kaş road. One of the most famous Lycian monuments, the Heroon of Trysa, was found in this city. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-05-25 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/trysa/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Trysa is a small city built on a ridge that runs parallel to the coastline north of the village of Davazlar, along the Demre-Kaş highway, about 5 km east of Kyaneai. Its Lycian name is thought to have been Trusñ. It was likely an independent city during the Lycian League period, as evidenced by coins minted with its own name. However, there is no information about the city in ancient sources, and its name is not mentioned in the Patara Road Monument. For this reason, it might seem like an insignificant settlement. Nevertheless, one of the most famous Lycian dynastic monuments—the Heroon of Trysa—was found in this city (see below). In the modern period, Julian August Schönborn was the first person to visit the city and identify the heroon in 1842. The first publication about the city was made by Benndorf and Niemann in 1884. The ruins of the city are located on the ridge and the south-facing slopes. The acropolis, surrounded by walls, is on the east side—the highest part of the hill. The necropolis lies at the western end, at a lower terrace level. Besides about 30 sarcophagi, some of which are quite high-quality, there was also a pillar tomb that no longer stands. Only a few of the reliefs surrounding its burial chamber have survived, but it is thought to be one of the oldest pillar tombs in Lycia. Apart from tombs and cisterns, the number of structures whose functions can be clearly defined is quite small.... --- > The ancient city of Simena is located directly opposite Kekova Island. Classical Lycian style rock-cut tombs testify to the dynastic period history of the city. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/simena/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The ancient city of Simena, or Kale, as it is known today, is located directly opposite Kekova Island, 9 km west of Andriake port. It is less than 1 km from Teimiusa to the east. However, unlike Teimiusa, due to its difficult location, the sea route was the only way to reach the city even until the 20th century. Simena was a member of the sympoliteia led by Aperlai during the Lycian League (along with Apollonia and Isinda). A few rock-cut tombs in classical Lycian style testify to the dynastic period history of the city. The medieval castle on the hill rising behind the harbor was built on top of the dynastic period walls. Traces of dynastic and Hellenistic structures are also visible under the modern period buildings. The small theater with 7 rows of seats inside the castle, which was carved into the bedrock during the Hellenistic period, is probably one of the oldest in Lycia. The remains of a building on the slope in front of the castle walls belong to a church that was built on an early temple structure. The ancient harbor is today submerged underwater. Researchers suspect that this was due to some strong earthquakes that took place in the region, especially in the first millennium, as well as the effect of the rise in sea level over time. Underwater surveys in the sunken harbor identified many structures, including a few ship shelters. As in many Lycian cities, the best-preserved monuments in Simena are the... --- > The ancient city of Tyberissos is located on a hill at the eastern end of the Tırmisin (Çevreli) plain. The Lycian name of the city is Tubure. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tyberissos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The ancient city of Tyberissos is located on a hill at the eastern end of the Tırmisin (Çevreli) plain, a few kilometers north of Teimiusa (Üçağız). The city dominates the entire plain, which lies between the foothills of Masikytos (Beydağları) in the north and the low hills parallel to the coastline in the south. The name of this fertile plain comes from Trmmis, the name given by the Lycians to their country in their own language. The Lycian name of the city is shown as Tubure on the Inscribed Monument (Xeriga Monument) in Xanthos. The name Tyberissos has been used since the Hellenistic period. According to the inscriptions found in the city, instead of the much closer city of Kyaneai, there was a political relationship with the city of Myra, which had a stronger and wider territory. Tyberissos and the neighboring Teimiusa may have formed a sympoliteia with Myra during the Roman imperial period. There are ruins from the dynastic period to the Byzantine period. The city is built on a hilltop with two peaks. The area around the higher northern peak that was protected by walls was probably the oldest settlement and must have been the acropolis of the city. The remains of a small church on the lower hill to the south are located on an early temple. It is understood from some inscribed stones used as spolia in the construction of the church that the early temple was built in the name of Apollo in the Hellenistic period.... --- > It is a small settlement established on a hill to the south of Hoyran village, about 4 km inland from the coast. The ancient name of the settlement is unknown. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-05-22 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/hoyran/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Hoyran is a small settlement located on a hill at an altitude of 500 meters, south of Hoyran village, about 4 km inland from the coast. The site contains ruins dating from the dynastic period to the Byzantine period. Ancient sources do not mention the settlement, and no inscriptions discovered so far provide information about its name. Therefore, the ancient name of the settlement remains unknown. It may possibly correspond to a settlement called Sorouda, which is mentioned only in Byzantine-period sources from this region. Despite its small size, the settlement features notable funerary monuments, particularly from the dynastic period. Benndorf and his team were the first to visit and document the ruins in 1881. On the hill, which is enclosed by castle walls, there are remnants of buildings carved into the bedrock. The necropolis, containing many sarcophagi, lies between the present-day village and the acropolis. In addition, well-crafted rock tombs—some bearing Lycian inscriptions—can be seen on the slopes. This unidentified settlement in Hoyran is believed to have been within the territory of Kyaneai. However, Tlepolemos of Myra is mentioned in a Hellenistic-period tomb found near the tomb of Ta’s son (see below), far from the necropolis area. This tomb, whose base was carved into the bedrock, was constructed in the form of a rectangular prism using large stone blocks—quite different from traditional Lycian tomb architecture. Hoyran Tomb (Tomb of the Son of Ta) About 1 km north of the acropolis lies one of the most remarkable rock-cut tombs from... --- > Sura is a small Lycian settlement located behind a hill northeast of the port of Andriake. The Lycian name was Surezi. There was an oracle of Apollon near Sura. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-04-23 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/sura/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is a small dynastic settlement located behind a hill northeast of the port of Andriake. It was known for the oracle center established there since the Hellenistic period. The slopes of the rocky hill of the settlement descend into a swampy area that used to be a small bay in ancient times. It was filled with the alluvium of the Karaemir stream that flows through the valley. Today's Çayağzı beach covers both the mouth of Sura Bay and the Andriake harbor, which was likewise filled by the Myros (Demre) stream. The Lycian name of the city is Surezi. The name Soura (Sura) has been in use since the Hellenistic period until today. The dynastic period settlement is in a castle built on a rocky hill. A large dynast mansion built on the acropolis was in use even in the later periods. On the slope north of the hill, there was a dynastic period watchtower that was in use until the Byzantine time. A dozen Roman period sarcophagi are spread around the acropolis hill. The most remarkable monument in Sura is the dynastic period tomb located at the southern end of the acropolis hill. The lower part of the tomb is in the form of a classical Lycian wooden imitation house. Above this, there is a sarcophagus so high that it almost resembles a pillar tomb. It is the largest sarcophagus found in Lycia. However, the tomb owner is unknown since there is no inscription on it. Just behind this... --- > It is a small settlement about 1 km north of Gökkaya port. Today, the region is known as Hayıtlı. It is surrounded by Hoyran, Tyberissos, Simena and Teimiusa. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/istlada/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It was a small settlement about 1 km north of Gökkaya port behind Aşırlı Island. Today, the region is known as Hayıtlı. It is surrounded by Hoyran in the north, Tyberissos in the west, Simena and Teimiusa in the southwest. Although not mentioned in ancient sources, the Istlada name has been read from the inscriptions found in the city. The tomb inscriptions show that during the Roman period it was subjected to Myra, the great metropolis of the region, but it may have been an independent city for a while in the Hellenistic period. Most of the remains are located on the southeast slope of a hill extending in a northeast-southwest direction parallel to the coastline. The remains of many houses built with cut stone walls on the terraces are well preserved. Many of the doorposts and beams are still in place. There is nothing that can be dated to the dynastic period, and all of the remains belong to the Hellenistic or later periods. Almost all of the 30 sarcophagi with Lycian-style ogival lids in and around the small plain to the south of the residential buildings belong to the Roman period. References:Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Marksteiner, T. 1996. 'Der Istlada Survey: Die Kampagne 1994', AST 13. 2, 89-102. Marksteiner, T. & A. Konecny. 1997. 'Der Istlada-Survey: Die Kampagne 1995', AST 16. 2, 463-475. Schuler, E. 2006. 'Inschriften aus dem Territorium von Myra in Lykien: Istlada', Chiron 36, 395-451. Image sources:Antalya KTMBora Bilgin, 2022Tayfun... --- > Ruins of Kyaneai are on a hill rising behind the Yavu village, on the highway between Kaş and Demre. It was the second largest city in central Lycia after Myra. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kyaneai/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Ruins of the city are on a hill rising behind the village of Yavu, on the highway between Kaş and Demre. It was the second largest city in central Lycia after Myra. Although there has not been regular excavation work, a comprehensive survey was conducted in and around Kyaneai by a team led by Frank Kolb between 1989 and 2001. According to Kolb, the Lycian name of the city was Xbahñ. The oldest findings in the city are dated to the 6th century BCE. It is thought that during the dynastic period, Kyaenai was a small city like Tüse, Korba, Trysa, Tyinda, and Hoyran in the region, and its importance increased after the abandonment of the centrally located Zagaba for an unknown reason. The city grew as a "polis" since the Hellenistic period and became the center of the region with the participation of other small cities in the vicinity. Eventually, Kyaneai had the largest territory among all the cities in the region. It is thought that the port of Teimiusa was used for the shipment of the products obtained from its large and rich agricultural areas. The most distinctive structures belonging to the dynastic period are the monumental tombs. Almost all of the other structures belong to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Iason Monument Just like his contemporary Opramoas of Rhodiapolis, Iason of Kyaneai became known for his philanthropy. He was probably the second richest person in Lycia after Opramoas. Iason also served as the Lykiarkh, the most important... --- > Dereağzı is a small Lycian settlement built on a hill where the Tokluca and Kasaba streams meet the Myros river. The Lycian name of the city is unknown. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/dereagzi/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is a small Lycian settlement built on a hill where the Tokluca and Kasaba streams meet the Myros River, which has an important position controlling the northern end of the Myros valley. Dereağzı settlement was first recorded in the modern period by Texier in 1836. Although it was on one of the main road routes, the Lycian name of the city is unknown. Unfortunately, the blocks of the Patara Road Monument, on which the name of the city should be written, could not be found. It is thought to be the city of Mastaura, which is mentioned in this region in Byzantine period records. No excavation has been done yet. Findings from surface surveys date back to the 9th century BCE. However, the earliest architectural structures are rock tombs with facades imitating wooden architecture from the Dynastic Lycian period. One of them bears a Lycian inscription (TL 80). Most of the ruins in the acropolis date from the Byzantine period. Apart from the tombs, another work dating back to the Lycian period is the relief made on the rocks near the castle gate. A bull sacrifice scene is depicted on the relief. References:Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Morganstern, J. 1993. 'The Settlement at Dereağzı: An Introduction to the History of the Site', Akten Lykien II Bd. 2, 71-76. Onur, F. 2015. 'Parerga to the Stadiasmus Patarensis (15): The Road Network around Kasaba Plain', Gephyra 12, 89-109. Wurster, W. W. 1993. 'Dynast ohne Palast... --- > Aperlai was a Lycian port city between Kaş and Kekova and was the port of Apollonia in the dynastic period. The Lycian name of the city was Aprlla. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/aperlai/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Aperlai was a port city between Kaş and Kekova. It is located in Asar Bay, 7. 5 km southeast of Simena, east of the narrow isthmus connecting the Sıçak peninsula to the mainland. The oldest surviving remains in the city are the walls from the Hellenistic period. There are 2 baths and 4 churches among the many building remains inside the city walls. Although there are dynastic period coins minted with the Lycian name Aprlla, there is no remaining structure or tomb from that period in the city. It is also claimed that Aperlai was the port of Apollonia in the dynastic period, and that these dynastic period coins may belong to Apollonia instead. In the necropolis, there are many Lycian-style sarcophagi from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. According to the inscriptions, the city was founded at the end of the 4th century BCE. Aperlai led a sympoliteia (together with Simena, Isinda, and Apollonia) that shared a single voting right in the Lycian League and minted coins under its own name during this period too. The earthquakes affecting the Lycian region caused serious damage to this coastal city as well. Along with the breakwater and port structures, many structures close to the coast were submerged as a result of the earthquakes. Underwater investigations of the submerged Murex workshops found in the harbor area show that Aperlei was enriched by the production and trade of purple dye (Tyrian purple). Purple dye, which is used especially for dyeing fabrics in magenta and... --- > Apollonia ruins are on a hill near Sahilkılınçlı village, 3 km north of Aperlai. It is likely that the city got its name from the Hellenistic period god Apollo. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/apollonia/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Ruins of the city are on a hill just south of Sahilkılınçlı village, 3 km north of Aperlai, between Kaş and Demre. The dynastic period ruins, especially the pillar tombs that are typical of Lycia, date the foundation of the city before the 4th century BCE. During the Lycian League period, Apollonia was in a quartet sympoliteia led by Aperlai (together with the cities of Simena and Isinda). It is likely that the city got its name from the Hellenistic period god Apollo. The dynastic period name of the city is unknown. Although the Lycian name Aprlla, which appears on some dynastic period coins, is generally attributed to the neighboring Aperlai, some researchers suggest it refers to Apollonia. According to Martin Zimmermann, Apollonia's name in the dynastic period was Aperlai, and the city of Aperlai, just 3 km to the south, was a small port settlement at that time. Since the Hellenistic period, the growing port settlement took the name of Aperlai, and the old settlement may have started to be called with a new Hellenistic period name, Apollonia. This finds support from the fact that Aperlai has no dynastic period remains, yet there are many dynastic period monuments in Apollonia, which include six Lycian pillar tombs. The small castle in the highest part of the acropolis hill also dates to the dynastic period. The wide range of sarcophagi on the northeastern skirts of the acropolis hill are mostly from the Roman period. There are also two churches, a bath,... --- > 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 dynastic period. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-05-21 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/isinda/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments 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.... --- > Phellos is located on the Felen plateau, at an altitude of 850 m, to the north of Kaş (Antiphellos) which was the port settlement of the ancient city. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/phellos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Phellos is located on the Felen plateau, at an altitude of 850 m, to the north of Kaş (Antiphellos), which was the port settlement of the ancient city. It was built on a narrow and long ridge that dominates the whole view up to the coast. The surveys carried out in the unexcavated city date its earliest history to the 7th century BCE. At the peak of its power in the dynastic period, Phellos was the most important castle in the region between Xanthos and Myra. Although from time to time during that period the city was ruled by the dynasties from Xanthos and Limyra, for the most part Phellos was an independent city and minted coins in its own name since the 5th century BCE. The Lycian name of the city is seen as Wehnti on coins minted in the dynastic period. Although the port settlement Antiphellos became a larger and independent city in the later periods, Phellos continued to exist until the Byzantine period by continuing to supply agriculture and forestry products to the port trade of Antiphellos. Existing city walls contain parts ranging from the dynastic period to the Byzantine period. The majority of the 130 tombs in the city belong to the dynastic period. Several of those are in the classic Lycian style (some with Lycian inscriptions) and are among the best-preserved monuments of the city. References:Başgelen, N. (ed. ) 2005.  Lycian Journal 1892 - Ernst Krickl, Archaeology and Art Publication, İstanbul. Benndorf, O. & G.... --- > Antiphellos was founded as the port of Phellos. By developing trade activities, it grew much larger than Phellos. Lycian name of the city is Wehinta. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/antiphellos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Antiphellos was founded as the port of the city of Phellos. By developing trade activities, it grew much larger than Phellos, and by the Hellenistic period it became an independent city. There are coins minted under its own name. The Lycian name of the city is Wehinta. There has not been comprehensive excavation work in Antiphellos. The oldest of the visible structures are the tombs belonging to the dynastic period. At the neck of the peninsula, parallel to the sea, rises the acropolis hill. Built on its southern slope, the Roman period theater is the best-preserved building in the city. It was probably built on top of an older theater of the Hellenistic period. The theater was restored in 2011. The ancient city was located between the acropolis and the port to the east. Most of the buildings in this area are buried under the modern-day settlement, although traces of the fortification walls surrounding the settlement area and the acropolis hill can still be seen. After a salvage excavation in 2012, the building that was labeled as bouleuterion in the map of Charles Texier was identified as a Hellenistic temple structure. It was used for different purposes in later periods. The Lion Tomb of Antiphellos It is a classical Lycian sarcophagus rising on a hyposorion with a wooden imitation chest and an ogival-shaped lid. The tomb is named after the two lion head-shaped protomes on each side of the lid. The sarcophagus, still standing in its original place, is now... --- > The ancient city of Kandyba is next to the Çataloluk (Gendive) village on the Elmalı-Kaş road. The Lycian name of the settlement was Xãkbi. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kandyba/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The ancient city of Kandyba is next to the Çataloluk village on the Elmalı-Kaş road. The old name of the village is Gendive, which is a phonetically altered version of Kandyba. The Lycian name of the settlement was Xãkbi. The acropolis hill is located in the northeast of the village. Some building foundations carved into the rocks and a few cisterns are the only visible structures in the acropolis. The well-preserved parts of the fortification walls surrounding the acropolis are from the Byzantine period. There was a small Hellenistic theater carved on the rock just in front of the acropolis gate on the south side of the hill, but almost no trace remains of it, except a small section of the top seat rows. On the rocks around the acropolis, there are a few rock tombs (two of them with Lycian inscriptions) and sarcophagi. Despite the scarcity of visual remains, Kandyba was a well-known city since the dynastic period and was a member of the Lycian League. It continued to exist until the Byzantine period. The city minted coins under its own name in the dynastic period and also became an important coinage center of the region. References:Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Borchhardt, J. , H. Eichner & K. Schulz. 2005.  KERTHTHI oder der Versuch, eine antike Siedlung der Klassik in Zentrallykien zu identifizieren, Adalya Supp. Series 3, Antalya. Müseler, W. 2018. 'Beyond the Xanthos Valley: Rulers and mints in... --- > It is most likely a dynastic period settlement which is located 6 km northwest of Kyaneai. The ancient name of the settlement is unknown. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/tuse/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is most likely a dynastic period settlement that is located in the sovereignty area of Kyaneai. The ruins of the settlement are located 6 km northwest of Kyaneai, on the mountain range that separates the small Sarılar plain in the southeast and the large and fertile Kasaba plain in the northwest. Spratt and Forbes are the first to mention the site in written sources. They defined it as Tüse, based on the name given by the local people. The ancient name of the settlement is unknown. According to the tomb inscriptions, Tüse was under the administration of Kyaneai in the Hellenistic period. Findings in the acropolis date back to the archaic period. The Hellenistic and later period settlement is mostly located on the skirts of the acropolis hill, which is today called Düzkale Tepe. The castle on the top of the acropolis hill belongs to the dynastic period. Today, almost the entire city is under forest cover, except for the castle bastions at the highest point of the acropolis. The functions of the structures other than the city walls, tombs, and cisterns are unclear. It is possible to see different types of tombs, such as tumulus, pillar tombs, rock-cut tombs, sarcophagi, and chamber tombs in and around the settlement. Two pillar tombs and a heroon on the southern skirt of the castle are dated to the late archaic period (second half of the 6th century BCE). The remains of a building on the western side of the castle were... --- > Neisa is located on the Meryemlik hill near the Sütlegen village of Kaş. Although it was a relatively small settlement, Neisa was a member of the Lycian League. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/neisa/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The city is located on the Meryemlik hill near the Sütleğen village of Kaş. Although it is a relatively small settlement, Neisa was a member of the Lycian League and in the 2nd century BCE had coins minted in its own name. The city is mentioned on the Patara Road Monument, which indicates that it was at the crossroads of the roads coming from both Xanthos and Kandyba to Elmalı. The prominent Dionysii family of the city stemmed numerous Lykiarchs in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. So far, no excavation work has been carried out in Neisa. Almost all of the few structures visible in the city are from the Roman period. The earliest structures are the Hellenistic period city walls. The best-preserved building in the city is a small theater with 22 rows. Three baths and several sarcophagi and mausoleums are other visible monuments. The main street with the well-preserved stone pavements may have been used as a stadium too. Neisa was established in a forested area on the Taurus Mountains far from the coastline, and the wealth of the city came from forestry activities. It is known that the region was rich in precious cedar trees in the past. References:Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Şahin, S. 2007. '“Zwei Holzfaeller und der Wald in der Kartapis bei Neisa', Gephyra 4, 37-45. Takmer, B. & M. Oktan. 2013. 'Parerga zum Stadiasmus Patarensis (11): Die lykische Stadt Neisa', Gephyra, 20, 50-93. Image sources:B. Takmer,... --- > The city is located on a hill overlooking the fertile plain, just northwest of Kumluca. Rhodiapolis forms the eastern border of cultural Lycia. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/rhodiapolis/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The city is located on a hill overlooking the fertile plain, just northwest of Kumluca. Rhodiapolis forms the eastern border of cultural Lycia. Ancient sources state that the city was named after its founders from Rhodes. On the other hand, the local name "Wedrei," which is read on city coins and Lycian inscriptions, shows that the settlement has an earlier origin. There are 29 rock-cut tombs dated to the Classical Period. The findings of the excavations take the history of the city back to the 8th century BCE. The city was first identified by Spratt and Forbes in 1842. The dense forest covering the ancient city was destroyed by a fire in 2000, and the regular excavations were carried out by Akdeniz University between 2006 and 2012. Rhodiapolis draws attention, especially with its city plan. A very successful construction has been realized within geographical constraints. Rhodiapolis has almost all types of buildings that could be seen in a classical Roman city, albeit in smaller sizes. On the other hand, the Asklepios structure is the only known example in Lycia. It was founded by the famous physician Heraclitus, who lived in Rhodiapolis in the 2nd century BCE. Although the city had many cisterns, a shortage of water resources prevented its further growth. The city gained particular attention among the researchers because of the Opramoas Monument, which is famous for its inscriptions (see below). Theater Other structures Opramoas Monument Opramoas of Rhodiapolis is one of the most famous figures of the Roman... --- > The ancient city of Korydalla was established at the west of Kumluca, only 2 km southeast of Rhodiapolis. The city has almost no structural remnants left today. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/korydalla/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The ancient city of Korydalla was established on and around two low hills just west of Kumluca, only 2 km southeast of Rhodiapolis. It is thought that Korydalla formed a triple sympoliteia together with Rhodiapolis and the coastal city of Gagai. Korydalla was the leader of this sympoliteia. The city was first identified by Spratt and Forbes in 1842 and has almost no structural remnants left today. There is no trace of the many buildings that appeared in the settlement plan prepared by Spratt. George Bean notes that in 1952, he personally witnessed the removal and transportation of stones from the ruins by trucks to be used as building materials in nearby settlements. The coins bearing the name of Korydalla and all the inscriptions found in the city belong to the Roman period. The few identifiable structures that have survived to the present day consist of a cistern, a water channel, and a few rock tombs. References:Başgelen, N. (ed. ) 2005.  Lycian Journal 1892 - Ernst Krickl, Archaeology and Art Publication, İstanbul. Bean, G. E. 1997.  Eskiçağda Likya Bölgesi, çev. H. Kökten, İstanbul. Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Spratt, T. A. B. & E. Forbes. 1847.  Travels in Lycia, Milyas and Cibyratis, London. Image sources:T. A. B. Spratt & E. Forbes, 1847N. Başgelen, 2005Bora Bilgin, 2023Tayfun Bilgin, 2023Reha Özer, 2023 --- > It is a port city located on the west coast of the Gulf of Antalya. Olympos was one of the six cities of the Lycian League with 3 voting rights. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/olympos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is a port city located on the west coast of the Gulf of Antalya, 16 km south of Phaselis. The Olympos River, which reaches the sea by forming a deep valley, passes through the middle of the city. Although the foundation date of Olympos is unknown, the Lycian League coins minted in the name of the city suggest a date in the Hellenistic Period. It is likely that it was founded as a Doric colony like Phaselis. During the Roman period, Olympos was one of the six cities of the Lycian League with 3 voting rights and was the only Eastern Lycian city with this privilege. However, during the first quarter of the 1st century BCE, it was excluded from the Lycian League along with Phaselis due to the piracy activities led by Zeniketes of Olympos. After the end of the piracy activities, it became a member of the Lycian League again during the Roman Imperial Period. The name of Olympos does not appear on the Patara Road Monument nor on the Stadiasmus Maris Magni, which shows the Roman Time Mediterranean Ports. On the other hand, both texts mention the city of Korykos, whose exact localization is unknown, in the same region. Researchers suggest that the city of Olympos that we know today was actually built on the nearby Mount Musa in the Hellenistic Period and that the coastal settlement we call Olympos today was established as a port city under the name of Korykos. According to Mustafa Adak,... --- > It is located near the village of Yazır, about 5 km east of Olympos. The ruins of the small settlement on a rocky hill are called Asartaş. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/asartas/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is located near the village of Yazır, about 5 km east of Olympos. The ruins of the small settlement on a rocky hill are called Asartaş. The two rock tombs discovered in 1993 on the eastern side of this rocky hill are the best-preserved monuments. The façade of the first rock-cut tomb, located further to the north, is striking with its rich ornaments. Due to the broken left leg of the relief on the right of the tomb entrance, it is called Topal Gavur (The Lame Infidel) by the local people. The Greek inscription on it states that the owner of the tomb was Apollonios, the son of Hellaphilos:Here I lie dead, Apollonios, son of Hellaphilos. I acted fair and enjoyed life,with eating and drinking and having pleasure. Greetings to passersby! Another rock-cut tomb located nearby is important as it bears a Lycian inscription (N 335). It is the easternmost of the Lycian inscriptions found so far. In addition, it was built with meticulous craftsmanship in a typical Lycian tomb architecture that imitates wooden houses. Although Lycian culture was not dominant in this region, the existence of such monuments indicates the eastern extensions of the cultural influence. References:Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Işın, G. 1994. 'The Easternmost Rock Tomb in Lycia, Topal Gavur at Asartaş', Lykia 1, 68-76. Işın, G. 2011. 'Topal Gavur’dan Apollonios’a: Bir Keşif Öyküsü'.  Aktüel Arkeoloji, Mart-Nisan, 104-111. Wörrle, M. 1997. 'Die Inschriften am Grab des Apollonios am... --- > Phaselis is located on a small peninsula at the west coast of the Gulf of Antalya. Although geographically it is in Lycia, culturally it is not Lycian. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-08 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/phaselis/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Phaselis is located on a small peninsula on the west coast of the Gulf of Antalya. Although geographically it is in Lycia, culturally it is not Lycian. Ancient writers also gave similar information on this subject, some placing it in Lycia, some in Pamphylia, and further some just stating that it was on the border of Lycia and Pamphylia. According to the ancient sources, the city was founded as a Rhodes colony in 690 BCE. Thanks to its natural harbors, the city became rich with maritime trade and was paying as much tax as the city of Ephesus while it was a member of the Delian League. When Alexander the Great invaded Lycia in 334 BCE, he spent the whole winter in Phaselis. Ancient writers praise the beauty and wealth of the city while describing this period. Phaselis has been a member of the Lycian League for only 30 years, starting from 130 BCE. The city was affected by the intense piracy activities that started in the Mediterranean at the beginning of the 1st century BCE. Around that time, they left (or were expelled) from the Lycian League together with the city of Olympos due to their compulsory or voluntary cooperation with the pirates. The ruins were first identified in 1811 by Francis Beaufort. Since then, thanks to its easily accessible location by the sea, a large number of researchers have visited and surveyed the city. These early surveys consisted mostly of epigraphic studies. The first official excavations were carried... --- > It is located on Kepez Hill, near the village of Güzören, 12 km from Kumluca. Until the discovery of Patara Road Monument, identity of the ruins was not known. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/pygela/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is located on Kepez Hill, near the village of Güzören, 12 km from Kumluca. Until the discovery of the Patara Road Monument, the identity of the ruins was not known. The routes listed in the Patara Road Monument matched the location with the city of Pygela, and the later discovery of the name Pygela on a tomb inscription in the city by Mustafa Adak and Nihal Tüner confirmed its location. The remains of the walls from the Hellenistic Period can be found among the dense vegetation on the hill. The building remains are mostly to the south of these city walls. No excavation work has been carried out to date, and the functions of the building remains are not identified. However, since it was not inhabited during the Byzantine Period, all of the existing structures must belong to the Roman and Hellenistic periods. All of the sarcophagi in the necropolis area to the southwest belong to the Roman Period. Many of the sarcophagi are inscribed, but most of them are highly weathered and unreadable. A rock-cut tomb imitating a classical wooden structure was found near this settlement, in the Yukarı Savrun neighborhood. Since Pygela is a very small settlement, it is unlikely that it was an independent city and may have formed a sympoliteia with nearby cities. References:Adak, M. & N. Tüner. 2004. 'Pygela. Doğu Likya Dağlarında Yeni Keşfedilen Küçük Bir Kent', Arkeoloji ve Sanat, Kasım-Aralık 118, 43-50. Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk... --- > The city is located at the southwest end of the Bey Mountains, 3 km north-northwest of Akalissos. It was first identified by Spratt and Forbes in 1842. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/idebessos/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The city is located at the southwest end of the Bey Mountains at an altitude of 1000 m, 3 km north-northwest of Akalissos. It was first identified by Spratt and Forbes in 1842. Idebessos had a polis status and was represented in the Lycian League as a sympoliteia along with the cities of Akalissos and Korma. Although it is thought to have an older origin, the existing remains do not go back any further than the Hellenistic Period. However, no excavation work has been carried out in the city yet. Detailed surveys were carried out in 2000 and 2008 by Akdeniz University. Some of the buildings that make up the city are on the plain facing west, and some are on the slopes of a steeply descending hill to the east. The slope settlements are protected by walls. The small theater with only 7-8 steps is in Hellenistic style. A small bath supported with an aqueduct and a three-aisled Byzantine Period basilica are among the identified structures. The necropolis area extends from the south of the bath to the west of the theater. All of the sarcophagi belong to the Roman Period, and some of them have inscriptions. The tanks of the sarcophagi are mostly decorated in Psidian style, but the lids are ogival-shaped in Lycian style. There are no rock tombs. References:Başgelen, N. (ed. ) 2005.  Lycian Journal 1892 - Ernst Krickl, Archaeology and Art Publication, İstanbul. Bayburtluoğlu, C. 2004.  Lykia, Suna-İnan Kıraç Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Araştırma Enstitüsü, İstanbul. Çevik,... --- > Ancient Lycian city of Arykanda is located midway between Elmalı and Finike, on a mountain pass which connects the coastal cities to Northern Lycia. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-07 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/arykanda/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Arykanda is located midway between Elmalı and Finike, about 30 km from either town. It is located on the Bey Mountains on a natural pass that connects the coastal cities to Northern Lycia. Arykanda was first identified by Charles Fellows in 1840. Natural access to the city is only from the south. A high rock cliff rises at the north, and there are deep cliffs to the east and west of the city. It was established in the form of terraces on a slope. The altitude difference between the northernmost and southernmost points is 200 m. Günther Neumann states that the Lycian name of the city is "Aru(w)-ak-anda," which means "the place in the high rocks. " Although this Luwian-originated name suggests an older date for the city, there is almost no find that predates the 5th century BCE. Dynastic period findings are limited to the classical Lycian rock tombs and coins discovered in the surrounding area. Except for some city-issued coins, no Lycian inscription was found in Arykanda. Excavations were started in 1971 by Cevdet Bayburtluoğlu and continue today. References:Bayburtluoğlu, C. 2003.  Yüksek kayalığın Yanındaki Yer, Arykanda, İstanbul. Bayburtluoğlu, C. 2004.  Lykia, Suna-İnan Kıraç Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Araştırma Enstitüsü, İstanbul. Image sources:C. Bayburtluoğlu, 2003Bora Bilgin, 2022Tayfun Bilgin, 2022Reha Özer, 2022 --- > Kitanaura is near the village of Saraycık, 42 km north of Kumluca district of Antalya. The most striking monuments is the "Heroon of Kitanaura". - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kitanaura/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Kitanaura is near the village of Saraycık, 42 km north of the Kumluca district of Antalya. The ruins were first discovered by Spratt and Forbes in 1842. Although different suggestions were made, such as Apollonia and Marmara, the identity of the ruins could not be determined for about 150 years. In the 1990s, the location of Kitanaura was confirmed by the discovery of both the coins belonging to the city of Kitanaura and the Patara Road Monument. The name of the city is mentioned as "Kitanaura of Termessos" in the Patara Road Monument. The first detailed survey of the city was carried out in 2006. The western and eastern sides of the acropolis, which was established on a hill with an altitude of 1300 m, are surrounded by steep cliffs. The main entrance is in the southwest. Especially the two-tiered city walls on the south side are better preserved. The existing walls were built in the Hellenistic Period and renovated in the later periods. All of the building remains seen today in the city, which has not been excavated yet, belong to the Roman and later periods. The best-preserved building is the bath-gymnasium, which is dated to the 2nd century CE. Among the many tombs in the necropolis to the south and west of the acropolis, the most striking one is the monumental Heroon. Heroon of Kitanaura The monument has a temple-formed design that reminds of the Perikle Heroon in Limyra. The base of the rectangular building measures 8. 35... --- > The ancient Lycian city of Mnara is located on Mt. Kavak, 37 km southwest of Antalya. In the Hellenistic Period the name of the city was converted to Marmara. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/mnara/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments The ancient city of Mnara was established at an altitude of 1350 m on the Kavak Mountain, approximately 37 km southwest of Antalya. There have been several different opinions about the location of the city until the discovery of the Patara Road Monument, which confirms the identification of the "Kavak Dağ" ruins as Mnara. It consists of a very steep and inaccessible rocky acropolis and the remains of buildings on its skirts. The first serious studies were carried out in 2004. In the Hellenistic Period, the name of the city was converted to Marmara. It is also known that the city established a sympoliteia with Phaselis possibly starting in the Hellenistic Period and continued into the Roman era, which makes it the longest-lasting sympoliteia in Lycia. Despite the dense forest cover and heavy destruction by treasure hunters, agora, parliament buildings, and temple structures were identified. The interior of the parliament building is completely covered with debris due to erosion. The temple was initially thought to be dedicated to Apollo Lykos or Zeus. However, it is now believed to be the Temple of Artemis after the 2007 discovery of an inscription in Rhodiapolis, which clearly mentions a Mnara Artemis. A rectangular structure built right on the edge of the cliff at the southern end of the settlement is also remarkable. It consists of 11 linear rows of seats and an open stage with a background view of the entire coastline stretching from Antalya to Phaselis in the west and overlooking the... --- > Onobara appears to be the easternmost settlement of Lycia in the Patara Road Monument. It is on the south end of Deveboynu hill, east of Gedeller in Antalya. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/onobara/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is on the south end of Deveboynu Hill, east of the village of Gedeller in Antalya. According to the inscriptions found during land surveys, Onobara was thought to be a center of many farms in the vicinity rather than a city. The sarcophagi found in scattered farms around the settlement confirm this view. It is thought that the name of the settlement means donkey (ono) farm (baris). It was a member of the Lycian League through the sympoliteia formed with Trebenna during the Roman Period. Onobara appears to be the easternmost settlement of Lycia in the Patara Road Monument. A road leading from Onobara reaches Attaleia in the neighboring province of Pamphylia. Apart from land surveys, no excavation work has been carried out in Onobara. All of the few visible remains belong to the Roman and Byzantine periods. 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. Image sources:N. Başgelen, 2005Epigrafik Araştırmalar Raporu, 2015Wikiloc, 2023 --- > Typallia is located on a steep and rocky hill to the north of the Çitdibi, about 30 km from Antalya. It is at the road junction between Trebenna and Kitanaura. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-07 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/typallia/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments It is located on a steep and rocky hill to the north of the Çitdibi Village, about 30 km from Antalya. It is at the road junction between Trebenna and Kitanaura. Although Spratt and Forbes were the first to visit the ruins, Stephen Mitchell was the first to suggest the name Typallia, which is confirmed by the inscriptions found at the site. There are very few identifiable structures in the city, which has not yet been excavated. Apart from the acropolis entrance, terrace walls, and sarcophagi, the only structure whose function can be determined is a small Roman bath. References:Çevik, N. 2021.  Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara. Özdilek, B. 2014. 'Beydağları Yüzey Araştırması', Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Yayınları 51, eds. A. Özfırat-N. Coşkun, 303-349. Image sources:B. Özdilek, 2014Bora Bilgin, 2023Tayfun Bilgin, 2023 --- > Trebenna is the northeasternmost city of Lycia, and located about 32 km west of Antalya. Trebenna was included in the Lycian League during the Roman Period. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/trebenna/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Although it is written as Trabenna on the Patara Road Monument, the name of the city is mentioned as Trebenna in the inscriptions found in the city. Trebenna is the northeasternmost city of Lycia and is located about 32 km west of Antalya. In the Hellenistic Period, Trebenna was under the sovereignty of Termessos, which is a Psidian city. Trebenna was included in the Lycian League during the Roman Period and minted coins with its own name. It is known that two different Trebenna citizens were elected as the President (Lykiark) of the Lycian League in the 3rd century CE when it was the most prosperous. It is known that Trebenna established a sympoliteia with the city of Onobara during the Roman Period, possibly to gain access to the sea. The ancient city was first identified by Karol Lanckoronski in 1882. Many surveys have been carried out by local and foreign researchers, but no excavation has been carried out. Existing findings do not date before the Hellenistic Period. Most of the buildings visible today belong to the Roman and Byzantine periods. Hellenistic Period ruins are limited to the inside of the acropolis walls. On the plain to the south of the Acropolis hill, there are Roman Period structures ekklesiasterion, sebasteion, stoa, and agora. The large Roman bath is located on the slope of the hill called the Elmin necropolis, to the south of the acropolis. The other necropolis to the west of the city is called Irimli. Both necropolises contain... --- > Kibyra is located 110 km southwest of Burdur, near Gölhisar. It is the last city in the north of the Lycian road route shown in the Patara Road Monument. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-09 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/kibyra/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Kibyra is located 110 km southwest of Burdur, near the town of Gölhisar. The name Kibyra is not Greek. Although it is thought to be of Luwian origin, its meaning is unknown. It is the last city in the north of the Lycian road route shown in the Patara Road Monument. Kibyra is not a city with a Lycian culture. It is located at the intersection of Pisidian, Carian, Lydian, and Phrygian cultural zones. Strabo writes that the Kibyrans were of Lydian origin and that the Greek, Lydian, Pisidian, and Solymian languages were spoken in the city. In the 2nd century BCE, while the region was under the rule of the Kingdom of Pergamon, a tetrapolis was established with Boubon, Balboura, and Oinoanda under the leadership of the city of Kibyra. While the region was called Kabalia before, it was mentioned as the Kibyratis Region since the Hellenistic and Roman periods. After the army of the tetrapolis was defeated by Rome in 81 BCE, cities other than Kibyra were included in the Lycian League. Kibyra, which was further north, joined the Roman province Asia. Although its exact date is not known, Kibyra was also included in the Lycian League in a later period. The city lost its strength after the earthquake in 417 CE. Travelers Spratt and Forbes were the first to visit the city in the modern era in 1842. After the partial excavations in 1988-89 and 2001-02, regular excavations started in 2006. Although there are findings dating back... --- > Bubon is located on Dikmen Tepe, near the village of Ibecik in Gölhisar, Burdur. The city is famous with bronze sculpture finds in the sebasteion structure. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-28 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/bubon/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Ruins of Bubon are in a locality called Dikmen Tepe, near the village of Ibecik in the Gölhisar district of Burdur. It is one of the cities of the Kibyratis Tetrapolis. After the Tetrapolis army was defeated by Rome, Bubon joined the Lycian League together with Kibyra, Oinoanda, and Balboura. It is located on the northwest border of Lycia. An inscription found in the theater is a copy of the letter from the Roman Emperor Commodus, honoring the people of Bubon for their success against the bandit raids along the border by increasing their number of votes in the Lycian League from two to three. Although it was a small city, due to its strategic location, it gained equal voting rights with the largest and most privileged cities of the Lycian League, such as Patara and Xanthos. T. A. B. Spratt and E. Forbes were the first to mention Bubon in the modern period after visiting the site in 1842. Today, it seems very difficult to identify structures among the highly damaged remains other than the acropolis fortification walls, agora, sebasteion, theater, and tombs. Illegal excavations have also highly contributed to the destruction. In the subsequent years, apart from a salvage excavation for the sebasteion (see below), no scientific excavations were carried out. Sebasteion of Bubon and Bronze Statues Investigations about the source of some bronze statues that emerged in the American and Swiss antique art market in the 1960s indicated that they were smuggled abroad as a result of... --- > Balboura is located in Karaçulha locality of Altınyayla district of Burdur. It is a member of Kibyratis Tetrapolis together with Oinoanda, Bubon and Kibyra. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-07 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/balboura/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Balboura ruins are located in the Karaçulha locality of the Altınyayla district of Burdur. It is thought that Balboura, like Oinoanda, may have been founded by immigrants from Pisidia, as it culturally shows more Pisidian characteristics than Lycian. Due to the conflicts with other Lycian cities, Balboura joined the Kibyratis Tetrapolis together with Oinoanda, Bubon, and Kibyra. The oldest findings in the city date to the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 2nd century BCE. Kibyratis Tetrapolis supported the Pontic king Mithridates during his revolt against Rome. Rome, which won the war, dispersed the tetrapolis. After 81 BCE, Balboura became a member of the Lycian League. The remains of the walls surrounding the acropolis reach only 2 meters in height. No monumental remains were found in the acropolis area. The Hellenistic theater is on the southern skirt of the acropolis hill. Its walls that support the stage are built in the polygonal technique with bossage stones. There is a smaller Roman period theater built into a recess in a rocky slope to the south of the valley. The workmanship of its stage building, whose lower parts have remained intact, is impressive, although there are very few traces of the seats carved into the rock. It is understood that the Nemesis Temple, the only structure in the city that could be identified with its inscription, was built by a person named Onesimos, who defined himself as a servant of the people. Hellenistic Theater Unfinished Roman Theater References:Coulton, J.... --- > Ruins of Oinoanda is located near the village of İncealiler in the Seydikemer district of Muğla. The city is famous with the Diogenes Inscription monument. - Published: 2024-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-07 - URL: https://www.lycianmonuments.com/oinoanda/ - Categories: Lycian Monuments Ruins of Oinoanda is located near the village of İncealiler in the Seydikemer district of Muğla. It is one of the four major cities in the Kibyratis (Kabaris) region (the others are Kibyra, Balboura, and Bubon). Although the city is associated with Wiyanawanda mentioned in Hittite inscriptions, this remains highly debated. According to Hellenistic period inscriptions, the city was founded by colonists from Termessos, a Psidian city. For this reason, it is often called Termessos by Oinoanda or Termessos Minor. In the dynastic period, during Perikle's rule, it is thought that Oinoanda, as well as Balboura and Bubon, were located within the borders of Lycia. However, due to their conflicts with other Lycian cities, these four cities (Oinoanda, Kibyra, Bubon, and Balboura) established a tetrapolis. This alliance was ended after the army of Mithridates, which was supported by the tetrapolis army, was defeated by Rome. Oinoanda, like every city of the dispersed tetrapolis, joined the Lycian League with two voting rights in 81 BCE. The city was established on a ridge between two mountains in a position to facilitate defense. The oldest dated structure in the city is the Hellenistic period city walls, which date back to the 2nd century BCE. Most of the other building remains belong to the Roman period and later. Apart from some structures whose functions have been defined, such as two baths, a theater, an aqueduct, and a temple, there are many building remains. Oinoanda was first identified in the modern era by R. Hoskyn... --- ---