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 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. Niemann. 1884. Reisen in Lykien und Karien (Reisen im südwestlichen Kleinasien I), Wien.
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.
Texier, C. 1849. Description de l’Asie Mineure, Vol.3, Paris.
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.
Zimmermann, M. 2005. ‘Feldforschungen in Phellos (Lykien) 2004’, AST 22.1, 63-68.
Image sources:
T. A. B. Spratt & E. Forbes, 1847
C. Texier, 1849
O. Benndorf & G. Niemann, 1884
N. Başgelen, 2005
Kasrehber.com
Tietz, 2016 (Tübinger Lykienproject)
Tayfun Bilgin, 2022
Bora Bilgin, 2022, 2023
Reha Özer, 2023